THE HAIRY WOODPECKER. 49 



generally selected each season, but where suitable trees ai-e scarce the same one 

 may be used for several years in succession, and in such a case it is usually 

 thorouahly cleaned out and the old chips in the bottom removed and replaced 

 by fresh ones. Beech, ash, poplar, birch, oak, sycamore, haw, and apple trees 

 are mostly used for nesting sites. 



Mr. D. B. Burrows writes me: "In Marshall Comity, Illinois, the river bot- 

 toms are subject to overflow during the spring, and high water lasts frequently 

 for two or three months, causing the willow^s and soft maples to die in great 

 numbers, sometimes leaving belts of dead trees of considerable extent. Among 

 these the Hairy Woodpecker is always to be found. The nesting season com- 

 mences earlier than that of any of the Woodpeckers found in this locality, and 

 seems to be quite regular. From my notes I find the time to secure fresh eo-"-s 

 to be from the 20th to the 24th of April. Here they nest mostly in dead willows, 

 though maple trees from which the bark has fallen off, leaving a smooth trunk, 

 are also frequently used." 



In Maine they nest sometimes in dead spruce and fir trees, but deciduous 

 trees seem to be preferred throughout their range. In the New England States 

 and northern New York fresh eggs are usually found during the first w^eek in 

 May, and ordinarily only one brood is raised in a season. In the Adirondacks 

 their holes are often found from 40 to 50 feet from the ground. The duties of 

 incubation are divided between the sexes and last about two weeks. The young 

 when first hatched are repulsive-looking creatures, blind and naked, with enor- 

 mously large heads, and ugly protuberances at the base of the bill, resembling a 

 reptile more than a bird. They are totally helpless for some days, and can not 

 stand; but they soon learn to climb. They are fed by the parents by regurgita- 

 tion of their food, which is the usual way in which the young of most Wooil- 

 peckers are fed when first hatched. Later, however, a few species, like the 

 Red-headed Woodpecker and other members of this genus, feed their young in 

 tlie ordinary manner, carrying the food in their bills. The young remain in tlie 

 nest about three weeks. When disturbed they utter a low, purring noise, which 

 rennnds me somewhat of that made by bees when swarming, and when a little 

 older they utter a soft "puirr, puirr." Even after leaving the nest they are 

 assiduously cared for by both parents for several weeks, until able to provide 

 for themselves. Should the first set of eggs be taken, a second, and sometimes 

 even a third, is laid at intervals of from ten to fourteen days; and if the nesting 

 site has not been destroyed or the entrance hole enlarged (which can readily be 

 avoided by sawing out a sufficiently large piece below the hole, enabling the 

 collector to insert his hand, and replacing this again carefully after taking the 

 eggs) they will frequently use it a second time. 



The number of eggs laid to a set varies from three to five, usually four. 

 I liave been informed that sets of six and seven have been taken, but I doulit 

 this. They are mostly oval in shape, sometimes elliptical oval, and occasionally 

 rounded ovate. The sliell is very finely granulated, glossy, and semitranslucent 

 when fresh, tlie yolk being plainly visible then; but as incubation advances it 



16896— No. 3 4 



