578 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



It is probably true that they usually excavate their own burrow, but tliis 

 is not an invariable rule. In tlie fall of 1870 a pair of these Woodpeckers 

 took shelter in my barn, remaining there during the winter. Although there 

 were abundant means of entrance and of egress, they wrought for themsehes 

 other passages out and in through the most solid part of the sides of the 

 building. Early in the spring they took possession of a large cavity in an 

 old apple-tree, directly on the path between the barn and the house, where 

 they reared their family. They were very shy, and rarely permitted them- 

 selves to be seen. The nest contained six young, each of which had been 

 hatched at successive intervals, leaving the nest one after the other. The 

 youngest was nearly a fortnight later to depart than the first. Just before 

 leaving the nest, the oldest bird climbed to the opening of the cavity, filling 

 the whole space, and uttering a loud hissing sound whenever the nest was 

 approached. As soon as they could use their wings, even partially, they 

 were removed, one by one, to a more retired part of the grounds, where tliey 

 were fed by their parents. 



Throughout Massachusetts, this bird, generally known as the Pigeon 

 Woodpecker, is one of the most common and familiar birds. They abound 

 in old orchards and groves, and manifest more apparent confidence in man 

 than the treatment they receive at his hands seems to justify. Their nests 

 are usually constructed at the distance of only a few feet from the ground, 

 and though Wilson, Audubon, and Nuttall agree ujjon six as the average 

 of their eggs, they frequently exceed this number. Mr. Audubon gives as 

 the measurement of tlie eggs of this species 1.08 inches in length and .88 

 of an inch in breadth. Their length varies from 1.05 to 1.15 inches, and 

 their breadtli from .91 to .85 of an inch. Their average measurement 

 is 1.09 by .88 of an inch. 



Colaptes mexicanus, Swainson. 



RED-SHAFTED FLICKER. 



Colaptes mexicanus, Sw. Syn. Mex. Birds, in Philos. Mag. I, 1827, 440. — Ib. F. Bor. Am. 

 II, 1831, 315. —Newberry, Zoiil. Cal. & Or. Route, 91 ; P. R. E. Rep. VI, 1857. — 

 Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 120. —Max. Cab. Jour. 1858, 420, mixed with hybridus. 

 — Lord, Proc. R. Art. Inst. I, iv, 112. — Cooper & Suckley, 163. — Sclater, 

 P. Z. S. 1858, 309 (Oaxaca). — Ib. Cat. 1862, 344. -Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 470 (San 

 Antonio, rare). — Coues, Pr. A. N. S. 1866, 56. — Sumichrast, Mem. Best. Soc. I, 

 1869, 562 (alpine district, Vera Cruz). — Gray, Cat. 1868, 121. — Dall & Bannister, 

 Pr. Chicago Ac. I, 1869, 275 (Alaska). —Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 408. Picus mei'i- 

 camcs, AuD. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 174, pi. ccccxvi. — Ib. Birds America, IV, 1842, 295, 

 pi. cclxxiv. — SuNDEVALL, Consp. 72. Colaptes collar is, Vigors, Zool. Jour. IV, Jan. 

 1829, 353. — Ib. Zool. Beechey's Voy. 1839, 24, pi. ix. Picus rubricatus, Wagi.er, 

 Isis, 1829, V, May, 516. (" Lichtenstein Mus. Berol.") Colaptes rubricatus, Box. Pr. 

 Zool. Soc. V, 1837, 108. — Ib. List, 1838. — Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 114. ? Picus cafer, 

 Gmelin, Sy,st. Nat. I, 1788, 431. — Lath. Index Ornith. II, 1790, 242. ? Picus 

 latliami, Wagler, Sy.st. 1827, No. 85 (Cape of Good Hope ?). 



