294 BULLETIN 15 5, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



and in the swampy woods along the Yuna. On May 9 near the town 

 one was flushed from a nest 10 meters from the ground in a trunk of a 

 palm. In the forested hills the woodpecker was the most prominent 

 bird as it was heard calling and hammering on every side. Curi- 

 ously enough in all his experience on the island he did not hear these 

 birds make the rattling drum, so prominent a habit in other wood- 

 peckers during the breeding season. From La Vega to El Rio May 

 17, and on the return journey May 30, many were seen along the 

 trail. At Constanza from May 19 to 28 they were common but did 

 not range extensively through the great forests of pine, preferring 

 the deciduous growth. 



In Haiti Saint-Mery, writing in 1797, tells us that the woodpecker 

 was found near Port-de-Paix, and on a later page says that it was 

 observed by Abbe Madoule and two companions on February 1, 

 1788, on the summit of La Selle. Descourtilz recorded it at Gonaives 

 April 16, 1799. A. E. Younglove collected specimens near Port-au- 

 Prince April 14 and May 7, 1866. Cory secured skins near Petion- 

 ville in February and March 1881. In April 1917, Bartsch recorded 

 it near Jeremie, Trou des Roseaux, Miragoane, Petit Goave, Port-au- 

 Prince, Trou Caiman, Glore and Thomazeau. 



Abbott secured specimens at Jeremie November 18, 19, 20, and 22, 

 Riviere Bar February 10, 12, 16, and 17, and Bombardopolis March 22, 

 during 1917. At Jean Rabel Anchorage the same year he found 

 the birds nesting in holes excavated in the trunks of tree cacti, and 

 collected four sets of eggs. These are white in color with a slight 

 gloss. A single egg was secured on May 80 from a hole 13 inches 

 deep, 7 feet from the ground in a tree a foot in diameter. This egg 

 measures 25.8 by 18.3 mm. On June 2 two sets were taken. One of 

 four eggs came from a nest hole " 16 inches deep, 7V2 f ee t from the 

 ground." These measure 22.5 by 19.3, 23.5 by 19.4, 23.6 by 19.4 and 

 23.8 by 20.0 mm. Five eggs from a hole " 13 inches deep, 61.4 feet 

 from the ground " measure 24.5 by 18.5, 24.8 by 18.8, 25.6 by 19.3, 

 25.7 by 18.9, and 25.7 by 19.1 mm. Four eggs from a set of five 

 secured June 3 in a cavity " 18 inches deep, 7 feet from the ground " 

 measure 28.7 by 19.6, 29.2 by 20.3, 29.5 by 20.0 and 29.6 by 20.4 mm. 

 From these figures a considerable variation in size is evident. 

 Abbott says in his notes that he did not find the woodpecker on 

 Tortue, nor does he mention it from Gonave. In 1925 G. S. Miller, 

 jr., secured skeletons near St. Michel. Beebe brought living birds 

 in 1927 for exhibition by the New York Zoological Society. 



Wetmore, in 1927, recorded the woodpecker at Damien March 29. 

 L'Arcahaie March 30, where it was common among the enormous 

 cacti, perching on the flat pads, Mont Rouis March 30, Fonds-des- 

 Negres March 31 to April 5, where it was observed feeding on 

 berries, Aquin April 3, L'Acul April 4, La Tremblay April 7, the 



