218 BIRDS OF THE NEW YORK CITY REGION 



well. In fact, the best way of determining its presence is 

 often the great square holes in the trees, and the long strips of 

 bark torn from the trunk. The noise of its hammering sounds 

 like the blows of an ax. In spring it may be detected by its 

 calls, which resemble those of the Flicker, but are readily 

 distinguishable on the same principle as the Hairy's from 

 the Downy 's. On the wing the bird looks as big as a Crow; 

 the white patches are quite conspicuous, and the flight, if at 

 all protracted, usually lacks the undulations of the other 

 Woodpeckers. 



Long Island. Probably a resident formerly. Long since ex- 

 tirpated, the last specimen taken in 1879. 



New Jersey. Resident near Greenwood Lake, Newfoundland 

 and Culver's Gap. 



ENGLEWOOD REGION. Dr. Chapman has recorded a speci- 

 men taken on the Palisades in September 1885 by a Mr. Jacob 

 Ulrich. He informs me that there is now some doubt as to the 

 authenticity of this specimen. The species should be expunged 

 from the list. 



RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) 

 This beautiful Woodpecker is without any doubt the most 

 erratic of our local birds, its distribution and status defying 

 logical interpretation. In every section it can be counted 

 upon to do something surprising and unexpected. As a 

 general summary it may be stated that it is a rare transient, 

 irregularly nesting and wintering locally. In any given 

 locality, however, its status may change from year to year, 

 from a permanent resident to total absence. No bird violates 

 to a greater degree the rule that breeding birds tend to return 

 to their old home. Such failures to reappear cannot be ex- 

 plained in the usual way with this species, nor can any habitat 

 preferences be assigned to account for its local distribution in 

 summer. Its migrations are equally remarkable. In any 

 section where it is not breeding or wintering it is a rare and 

 irregular transient. What I should call the normal migration 



