iSSS.] BeNdire on the Habits of the Genus Sphyrapicus. 227 



ingly small, not over i:^ inches in dianieler, about S inches deep, 

 and about 4 inches wide at the bottom. It contained three eggS5 

 nearly fresh, lying partly imbedded in a layer of fine chips. 

 About a year afterwards, when passing the same spot, June 2, 

 1878, I took another set of three fresh eggs of this species out of 

 a burrow in another, somewhat smaller aspen tree, in the same 

 grove. Although aspens of suitable size were to be found in 

 several places in the immediate vicinity of Camp Harney, Oregon, 

 which is located at the foot and on the southern slope of the Blue 

 Mountains, at an altitude of about 4S00 feet, I failed to find any 

 of these birds nesting there, although they were met with by me 

 at various times in the vicinity, and sometimes even quite a dis- 

 tance away from the mountains. They are only summer resi- 

 dents in that region, but an occasional straggler does remain in 

 sheltered locations throughout the winter. I am inclined to think 

 that this bird is much more common in the Rocky Mountain 

 region. 



An esteemed friend of mine, Mr. Denis Gale, an enthusiastic 

 naturalist in the fullest sense of the term, and a close observer, 

 residing in the mountains of Colorado, has at my request fur- 

 nished me with the following observations regarding this species. 

 He writes as follows : — 



"My observations have been, that this species invariably 

 selects for its nesting-site a living aspen tree. I have never met 

 with it in any other. This tree favors the mountain gulches, 

 and low sheltered hillsides at an altitude of from 7000 to 10,000 

 feet. Above this point they do not attain sufiicient size, and are 

 mostly dwarfed and scrubby. Here in Colorado Sphyrapicus 

 varius nuchalis is seldom found above 9000 feet, or much 

 below 8000 feet. The aspen tree is short lived, and ere much of 

 a growth is attained a cross-section in the majority of instances 

 will show a discolored centre of incipient decay, involving half or 

 two-thirds of its entire diameter, with a sound white sap zone on 

 tiie outer circumference, next the bark. This sound healthy zone 

 nourishes the tree, until the decayed core discovers itself in 

 some withered limbs, and frequently the top of the tree manifests 

 the canker. 



"Such trees the Red-naped Sapsucker selects for its nesting- 

 site, and with great perseverance chisels through this tough, 

 sound zone, from an inch to an inch and a half through — com- 



