232 Bendire on the Habits of the Genus Sphyraptcus. [July 



Other, a species of mountain ash, on which none of the shoots 

 were over three inches through, had been riddled all over by the 

 birds. These mountain ash shrubs, none of which grow to any 

 size, were rare, however, in that vicinity. 



In its range, I think this species breeds at a lower altitude 

 than 6*. varius nuchalis. Fort Klamath, however, although 

 but 4200 feet above sea level, has a very cool summer climate, 

 frosts occurring almost in every month of the year. The sur- 

 rounding country is very beautiful at that time. Heavy, ojoen 

 forests of stately pines and firs, amongst these the graceful and 

 beautiful sugar pine, are found on the mountain sides and reach- 

 ing well down into the green park-like valleys. Interspersed 

 here and there are aspen groves of various extent, their silvery 

 trunks and light green foliage blending artistically with the 

 sombre green of the pines. These aspen groves are the summer 

 home of the Red-breasted Sapsucker. 



x\s far as my own observations go, healthy, smooth-barked 

 aspens are always selected as suitable nesting-sites by these birds. 

 The trees used vary from 13 to 18 inches in diameter near the 

 ground, and taper very gradually. The burrow is usually exca- 

 vated below the first limb of the tree, say from 15 to 25 feet from 

 the ground. The entrance seems to be ridiculously small for the 

 size of the bird, perfectly circular, from \\ to i^ inches in 

 diameter only, so small indeed that it seems as if it took con- 

 siderable effort for the bird to squeeze himself in, and wriggle 

 out of the hole. 



The gourd-shaped burrow varies in depth from six to ten 

 inches, and it is from three inches, near the top, to four or five 

 inches wide at the bottom. The finer chips are allowed to 

 remain in the burrow, forming the nest proper, on which the 

 eggs are deposited. Frequently they are more than half covered 

 by these chips. The interior of the entire excavation is most 

 carefull}' smoothed oft', which must consume considerable time, 

 considering the tough, stringy and elastic nature of the wood, 

 when filled with sap, making it even more difficult to work when 

 partly decayed, which seems to be the case with nearly all aspens 

 of any size. Probably eight or ten days are consumed in exca- 

 vating a satisfactory nesting-site. All the larger and coarser 

 chips are dropped out of the burrow and scattered about the base 

 of the tree. From the quantity of these found under every tree, 



