316 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
of it as rare at Port Sydney in 1890, but increasing rapidly ; in 
1893 it was rare at Emsdale, but has become much commoner. 
(J. H. Fleming.) Fairly commonin all the western peninsula of 
Ontario. Abundant in many parts, but not so much so near 
London as formerly, the decrease beginning about 1878. It 
spends the winter here in considerable numbers if food condi- 
tions are favourable. (IW. &. Saunders.) 
A rare summer resident in Manitoba, but commoner eastward. 
(Thompson-Seton.) In May, 1895, this species was seen at Old 
Wives’ Creek, in eastern Assiniboia; also at Wood Mountain 
Post, and observed breeding at ‘Stone Pile” on the White Mud 
River, Assa., in June, 1895; a pair were found breeding on the 
east end of the Cypress Hills in June, 1894; the same year one 
was seen at Crane Lake and another at Medicine Hat, Assa.; a 
pair seen at Pass Creek, near Robson, Columbia River, B.C., 
June 25th, 1890. (AZacoun.) 
BREEDING Notes.—A common summer resident in Ontario. 
Very plentiful along the St. Lawrence, on Wolfe Island and else- 
where, becoming rarer northward in the county of Renfrew. It 
occasionally stays all winter. In the mild winter of 1890 I 
saw two several times in a sugar bush of large maples in the 
township of Escott, Leeds Co., Ont. Also at the same sugar 
bush I noticed one in December, 1899. It is a late breeder, sel- 
dom having eggs before June, and making its nest-hole high up 
in the dead limb of a large tree. I have only once or twice seen 
the nest within ten feet of the ground. (Rev. C./. Young.) Nest 
taken in woods near Ottawa. It was a hole in a tree and con- 
tained four pure white eggs laid on a bed of chips and dust. 
(G. R. White.) At Rice Lake, Ont.; June 1oth, 1902, I found this 
bird more plentiful than the common flicker, nesting in decayed 
tree stubs. (IW. Raime.) Mr. G. A. Dunlop found a nest with 
eggs of this species at Lachine, and I came across it breeding in 
a hole of a dead tree along a fence, between two woods at Longue 
Pointe, May 24th, 1889. I shot the female bird at the time for a 
specimen. I have not met with this conspicuously coloured wood- 
pecker in the autumn season, and therefore I infer it departs south 
as soon as its young are reared and able to migrate. (Wentle.) Is 
perhaps the latest of our woodpeckers to breed, seldom laying 
before June. It lays five to seven eggs of very variable size and 
shape, at varying heights from the ground, ranging from two to 
at least sixty feet. (W. E. Saunders.) 
