BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 



223 



My winter records are of a bird seen from the train at Beverly, on Decem- 

 ber 29th, 1902, and of one recorded by G. O. Welch as seen near Salem on 

 January 31st, 1889. 1 



The Kingfisher is not often seen in the Ipswich marshes in June and early 

 July, but in late July, August, and September it frequently takes its station 

 there, and fishes in the creeks. 



On October 13th, 1903, I saw a curious sight in Boston Common. A 

 Belted Kingfisher was flying over the Frog Pond uttering constantly his rattling 

 call, and was closely pursued by a Domestic Pigeon. The Kingfisher doubled 

 back and forth at least three times, the whole length of the pond, the Pigeon 

 eagerly following at a distance of twenty or thirty feet. At one time an English 

 Sparrow, with his characteristic hatred of our native birds, flew viciously at the 

 frightened Kingfisher, who redoubled his racket. Finally the Kingfisher alighted 

 in a tall elm and the Pigeon disappeared. 



172 [393] Dryobates villosus (Linn.). 

 Hairy Woodpecker. 



Not uncommon permanent resident, more common autumn transient visitor. 



Eggs: May 30. 



Mr. J. A. Farley tells me that he has found the nests of the Hairy Wood- 

 pecker sparingly but regularly in Lynnfield, Middletown, and Georgetown. 

 Messrs. F. G. and M. C. Blake have noted the bird in Andover on July 5th, 

 1900, and I found two on May 22d, 1904, in Topsfield, evidently breeding birds. 



173 [394c] Dryobates pubescens medianus (Swains.). 

 Northern Downy Woodpecker. 



Common permanent resident. 



Eggs ; May 22 to June 21. 



This is the common small Woodpecker of the County. 



'G. O. Welch: Ornithologist and Oologist, vol. 14, p. 30, 1889. 



