BIRDS OF NELSON COUNTY. 37 



and excessively so during a warm "spell" whicli lasted 

 during the first three days of October, 1879. Bull Bat 

 shooting is a favorite sport here during the last hour of 

 the afternoon in August and September, but their uncer- 

 tain and devious flight taxes the skill of the most expert 

 gunner. 



Suborder PICIFORMES: Piciform Birds. 



Family TICTDJE: Woodpeckers. 

 Genus Dryobates. 



119. ^Dryobites villosus (Linn.). Hairy Woodpecker. 

 Permanent resident, not very common, but more so in 

 winter than at any other time. A rather shy bird. 



120. * Dryobates pubescens (LiNN.). Downy Woodpecker. 

 A common permanent resident. 



/^ Genus Sphyrapicus. 



*^- — --^i^ir^ Sphyrapicus varius (Linn.). Yellow-bellied Wood- 

 pecker. 

 Winter resident. Rather common in the Fall, Avhen they 

 are most often seen about orchards, etc., where they are 

 supposed to carry on their nefarious practice of "sap- 

 sucking." The name "sap-sucker," is popularly applied 

 to this bird as well as the two last, but the others should 

 certainly stand acquitted of the crime. In fact all of the 

 woodpeckers are insectivorous and are of incalculable ben- 

 efit to man. 



Genus Ceophloeus. 



122. j-Ceophlceus pileatus (Linn.). Pileated Wood-pecker. 

 "Wood-cock." 

 An uncommon permanent resident in heavily wooded por- 

 tions of the county. Less than fifteen years ago I often 



