234 C\K\, Birds of the Black Hills. [j"i^ 



23. Picoides arcticus. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. — But two 

 examples of this species were seen, one on June 2, 1899, and the other, 

 which I secured, on June 11, 1900. This latter bird, an adult male, had 

 the feathers of its under parts matted together with pitch which it had 

 rubbed from the pine trunks. Both birds were seen in the heavy timber, 

 and it is quite probable that the species breeds in the hills. 



24. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Red-headed Woodpecker. — The 

 most abundant woodpecker in the Hills. 



25 Melanerpes torquatus. Lewls's Woodpecker. — This fine wood- 

 pecker is common in the Hills, and is partial to the burnt timber on the 

 sides of canons. They are frequently seen to launch into the air from a 

 dead stub in such a situation, and, after a few aerial evolutions, to return 

 to their former perch. Whether or not the woodpecker is catching an 

 insect at such times I am unable to state, but it is my firm belief that such 

 is the case. I have found Lewis's Woodpecker at all times to be an ex- 

 tremely wary bird, and very difficult of approach. 



26. Colaptes auratus luteus. Northern Flicker. — Fairly common. 

 I found a nest containing nine fresh eggs on June 4, 1899. 



27. Colaptes cafer. Red-shafted Flicker. — Common throughout 

 the Hills. 



28. Phalaenoptilus nuttallii. Poor-will. — The monotonous notes of 

 these birds were heard every night at the ranch. 



29. Chordeiles virginianus henryi. Western Nighthawk. — It is 

 quite probable that the nighthawks observed were of this variety. Ranch- 

 men informed me that eggs were often found in July. 



30. Aeronautes melanoleucus. White-throated Swift. — Abun- 

 dant, both at Hot Springs and Newcastle, where they were breeding in 

 June in the most inaccessible cracks and crevices on the face of sandstone 

 cliffs. The ranchmen have styled these birds 'twitter-twitters' and 

 ' nightflyers.' 



31. Selasphorus platycercus. Broad-tailed Hummingbird. — Two 

 hummingbirds were seen at the ranch in the latter part of May, 1900, and 

 as a very accurate description of the birds was given me I have no hesi- 

 tancj' in listing the species. 



32. Tyrannus tyrannus. Kingbird. — Fairly common along Beaver 

 Creek, seven miles from Newcastle, where the trees are mostly boxelders. 



33. Tyrannus verticalis. Arkansas Kingbird. — Frequently seen at 

 Hot Springs, where it spends much of its time perched upon telephone 

 wires. 



34. Sayornis phcebe. Phcebe. — Noted but once, on Beaver Creek. 



35. Sayornis saya. Say's Phcebe. — This interesting flycatcher is 

 quite common in the canons where its sweet but somewhat melancholy 

 notes may be heard at all hours of the day. The favorite perch of this 

 bird is a boulder in the bottom of a canon, from which it darts forth 

 every few moments to capture a passing insect. While in the air the 



