iS9o.J General Notes. lOI 



peckers still linger in the northern part of Worcester County, Mass., and 

 that a brood of young was seen there in the summer of iSS". Any doubt 

 that may have existed as to whether these birds really breed in this region 

 is now dispelled, for Mr. C E. Bailey has sent me a set of four eggs which 

 he took at Winchendon, May 17, 1S90. The nest was about forty feet 

 above the ground in a dead hemlock fully three feet through at the base 

 and over seventy feet in height, borne photographs taken for me under 

 Mr. Bailey's direction show that the tree stood in an opening surrounded 

 by a dense forest of spruces. One of the Woodpeckers, sufficiently large 

 and distinct to be easily identified with the aid of a magnifying glass, 

 appears clinging to the trunk a few feet from the entrance to its nest. 

 This opening, according to Mr. Bailey's description, was of sufficient size 

 to admit the hand and arm, so that no preliminary cutting was necessary 

 in order to reach the eggs. 



When the nest was first discovered both birds were in it together, but 

 on the following day when the eggs were taken the male was away, and 

 did not appear until his home was invaded. He watched the movements 

 of the enemy from a safe distance, relieving his mind, meanwhile, by 

 "talking a good deal." The female parent, on the contrary, showed 

 marked devotion to her eggs. After being again ami again driven from 

 the nest by violent pounding at the base of the tree, she would quickly 

 return ; and even after the eggs were removed she entered the nest and 

 remained within for some time, peeping out every now and then as if seek- 

 ing some trace of her lost treasures. 



After the nest was robbed, the pair disappeared for a few days, but. 

 returned about July 1, and a week or so later (I have been unable to obtain 

 the exact date and particulars) Mr. Bailey took a second set of four eggs 

 from the same hole. 



In the eggs of the first se f incubation hail progressed several days, 

 showing that probably the full number had been laid. They measured 

 respectively: 1.34 X 1.00, 1.2S X 1.00, 1.27 X too, and 1.22 X .97 inch. 

 In shape they are full, somewhat elliptical ovate. Save that they are 

 larger and have an even higher polish, they closely resemble the eggs of 

 Colaptcs, showing the same conspicuous pits or pores. — William Brew- 

 ster, Cambridge, Mass. 



Melanerpes aurifrons in Young Co., Texas, in 1878. — In 'The Auk' for 

 July, 1SS9 (Vol. VI, p. 23S) Mr. E. M. Hasbrouck notes the northern 

 limit of range of Melanerpes aurifrons. It would appear from the fol- 

 lowing extract from 'Science News' of Sept. 13, 1S79, that the range of 

 the species was considerably farther north than Eastland County in 1S7S. 



•'I have had an opportunity of noting the eastern and northern limit of 

 the^ellow-faced Woodpecker of Texas and have found it to range consid- 

 erably further north than I expected. This species first attracted my at- 

 tention between Austin and San Antonio, in Comal County, and about 

 two hundred miles from the Rio Grande. West of San Antonio it became 

 more plentiful and seemed to be inspecting the cedar telegraph poles, with 



