WOODPECKERS 271 



and fifteen feet from the bottom of the bank. The burrow 

 was four and a half feet in length. The seven nearly fresh 

 eggs were pure white and measure 1.35 x 1.02, 1.37 x 1.02, 

 1.35 X 1.01, 1.39 X 1.05, 1.33 x 1.01, 1.33 x 1.02, 1.34, x 1.02. 

 The full complement of eggs varies from four to eleven, usually 

 six or seven, and these are laid from as early as May 15 to 

 well along in June. Both birds aid in excavating and take 

 turns in incubating. Only one brood is reared. 



The birds eject the undigested bones, scales and similar 

 harder portions of their food, often in and about the nest, and 

 the young birds do likewise to some extent, so that the nest is 

 built up somewhat as the young grow. The young are on the 

 wing by the middle of July in many cases. 



Order PICI. Woodpeckers, Wrynecks, etc. 

 Family PICID^. Woodpeckers. 



Key to the species of PICIDiE. 



A. Head or nape or both with red bands or streaks or wholly red. 



1. Whole top of head not red, but a red crest on back of head or a 



red patch or band on or at sides of nape. 

 §. Under parts with black spots and streaks or wholly black. 

 ?. Wing over 8.00 ; under parts wholly black. Northern Pileated 



Woodpecker (female). 

 ??. Wing under 8.00 ; under parts spotted or streaked with black ; 

 rump white. Flicker. 

 §§. Under parts white not marked with black. 



a'. Outer tail feathers white. Hairy Woodpecker (male). 

 a*. Outer tail feathers black barred. Downy Woodpecker 

 (male). 



2. Top of head wholly red. 

 §. Throat red. 



?. Belly yellowish ; primaries white spotted. Yellow-bellied Sap- 

 sucker (male). 

 ??. Belly white ; primaries not spotted, black. Red-headed Wood- 

 pecker (male). 

 §§. Throat white. 



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