2^8 Bicknell oh the Singing oj Jlirrfs. [ July 



precision suggestive of a mechanical contrivance set off with a 

 spring. This it uses in lieu of song. It is set off for the first 

 time in the new year in March, usually ahout the middle, hut 

 sometimes earlier, and again not until the end of the month, or 

 even early April. 



It is in use through the summer and autumn, often becoming 

 infrequent in October, and in November still more so, although 

 in some years not ceasing altogether until the end of the month. 

 On a few occasions I have heard it in winter. 



The hammering of this little Woodpecker, which is often loud 

 and resounding in great disproportion to the bird's size, is intro- 

 duced into the woodland sounds about the time its song-notes 

 begin. In early seasons I have heard it by the middle of 

 February. 



Sphyrapicus varius. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker. 



The Yellow -bellied Woodpecker poses in a very different 

 character as a traveller than as a settler in its summer home. 

 By reference to Dr. Merriam's entertaining paper on this bird, in 

 the 'Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club' for January, 1*79, 

 we learn of its habits on its arrival in Lewis County. There it is 

 bold, familiar and preposterously noisy. In the region of which 

 I write it is in general a reserved and quiet bird, and does not often 

 indulge in hammering, even in the spring. Perhaps at the time 

 it passes — April — it is not ready to begin courtship, and drum- 

 ming, which, as with other Woodpeckers, in a measure takes the 

 place of song, is deferred until the birds are ready to seek their 

 mates. 



But though the species in general is undemonstrative with us, 

 there may be an occasional noisv individual. I can cite a good 

 instance under date of April S, 1SS0: On the morning of that day 

 a high-plumaged male had chanced upon a wonderfully resonant 

 hollow limb in an old chestnut tree in open woods. No true Wood- 

 pecker could miss turning such an occasion to account, and the 

 hard barkless shell was made to do good service. With great 

 satisfaction the bird would deliver at short intervals a loud tattoo — 

 a run of about eight determined raps in irregular succession. 

 After each sally it would throw back its red-patched head with an 



