Vol 'i^ XV ] General Notes. 79 



' The Bird,' copied, sending one copy to Mr. Doertenbach and another to 

 Mr. Cress, with- the request that they advise me whether or not it resembled 

 the specimen in question. Both agreed that it did not. Mr. Cress, in his 

 reply, stated positively that the photograph sent him "does not compare 

 at all" with his specimen, stating further that "it has no extra long feathers 

 on the back of the head like your photo", but that "its head is smooth like 

 the Grey Eagle or Bald Eagle". 



It seems probable that at the time of the collection of the specimen, 

 considerable discussion was engaged in by the interested parties, the 

 conclusion that it was a Harpy being reached without the proper knowledge 

 of the status or appearance of this species. — F. C. Lincoln, Denver, Colo. 



Sap Drinking by Sapsuckers and Hummingbirds. — Mr. H. 



Mousley's notes on ' Sap Drinking Habits of Warblers ' bring to mind some 

 of the experiences which Mrs. Wright and I had through considerable of 

 the summer of 1912. The ensuing fall Mrs. Wright made the following 

 notes which might have some interest in this connection. 



Mr. Alvah A. Eaton has written of Anna's Hummingbird in California 

 visiting the holes of a Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber). Mr. Frank Bolles 

 has told of his observations of the Ruby-throat (Trochilus colubris) in 

 Maine as a regular attendant at the holes of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 

 (Sphyrapicus varius). Last summer we had the pleasure of watching this 

 interesting phenomenon. 



We were camping near Dorset, Ontario. Nearby there were many trees 

 girdled with the holes of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Yellow birches 

 were the favorite haunts. Two birches just behind the camp seemed the 

 special rendezvous for both sapsuckers and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. 

 Indeed the Hummingbirds seemed very much at home, delicately sipping 

 sap at the table of their yellow-bellied friend. As the holes were about 

 fifteen feet from the ground, we fastened a platform between a ladder and 

 the tree on a level with the holes. Even this unsightly object did not 

 lessen the birds' visits, and one could stand at the top of the ladder with 

 camera on the platform scarcely six feet from the birds. The birds were 

 so active however, that it proved difficult to get many pictures. 



There was at least one whole family of sapsuckers who came frequently. 

 Their different modes of approach were interesting. Sometimes, one would 

 fly to a large tree near by, and then directly to the holes after looking all 

 around, or he might fly to the top of the tree and then work his way down 

 the trunk. One bird almost invariably flew to a branch below the holes 

 and one the far side of the trees, edged along this branch, then flew to the 

 side of the tree away from the platform, and next cautiously worked his 

 way around to the fresh holes. 



Quite different was the hummer's approach. The first intimation of his 

 visit was likely to be the whir of wings past one's ears. Quite frequently, 

 he visited the tree while the sapsucker was there, and at times when he 



