386 Erichsen, Birds of Liberty County, Ga. [j^jy 



proportions, evidently having served as a home for the birds for a number 

 of years. I was told that several pairs of these birds bred on the island, 

 but I was unable to pay a visit to their nests. 



11. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. Osprey. — Fish Hawks are 

 numerous on St. Catherine's island and I am told that at least ten pairs 

 regularly nest on the island. A nest on the south end was occupied at 

 the time of my visit on May 4. The birds return to the same nest year 

 after year, adding material each season, until the structure becomes of 

 large size. 



12. Coccyzus americanus americanus. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. 

 — Locally known as the ' Rain Crow,' this bird is moderately common 

 in the county. On May 17, near old Midway church, I found a nest seven 

 feet from the ground on a horizontal limb of a live oak, well out from the 

 trunk of the tree. The nest was the usual frail platform of twigs character- 

 istic of this species and contained three young. 



In its choice of nesting sites, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo shows no prefer- 

 ence for any species of tree or character of woodland, but as a rule, although 

 not invariably, it selects a horizontal limb. 



13. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Red-headed Woodpecker. — 

 Although not as abundant as the Flicker, the Red-headed Woodpecker 

 nests in much the same situations as the former species, but as a rule, 

 excavates its hole at a greater height than the Flicker. A nest noted 

 May 28 at a height of twenty-eight feet contained five eggs. A subsequent 

 visit to the nest disclosed the fact that the tree had been felled by the wind, 

 breaking the eggs and killing the sitting bird. 



14. Colaptes auratus auratus. Flicker.- — Liberty county con- 

 tains large areas of cut over lands with many stumps and dead trees, 

 a condition favorable to the increase of the Flicker. The birds are as a 

 result very abundant, nesting in close proximity to houses and as often 

 in the. woods far from dwellings. Although several birds were noted enter- 

 ing and leaving their nesting holes, I examined but one of the latter. This 

 was ten feet from the ground in a telegraph pole opposite the depot at 

 Allenhurst, and contained six fresh eggs on May 6. 



15. Antrostomus carolinensis. Check-will's Widow. — This in- 

 teresting bird is abundant in the county, particularly on St. Catherine's 

 island and adjoining hammocks. It inhabits thick dry woods where the 

 sim seldom penetrates the heavy foliage during the summer months. At 

 least a month elapses after arrival of the birds before the eggs are laid, 

 and from observations made by me in Liberty and nearby counties, cover- 

 ing a period of six years, I am convinced that but a single brood is raised. 

 Their two eggs are laid on the ground, usually on or among dry leaves, 

 and are, contrary to popular belief, unusually conspicuous in their setting. 



The Chuck-will's Widow flushes when the intruder is yet some distance 

 away, and rises with a guttural squawk, to my ears unlike any other 

 sound in nature. It is eminently crepuscular in habits, but when flushed 

 during the daytime flies with ease and rapidity through the maze of trees 

 until lost to view. 



