THE BIRDS OF ONEIDA COUNTY. 121 



open field, in a deserted woodpecker's hole in a dead maple stub, 

 twenty-two feet from the ground. This hole had been left by the 

 original woodpeckers at least two seasons, for in 1885 it contained 

 a nest of flying squirrels. The entrance was round, and about 

 two inches in diameter, just such a size that the head of the bird, 

 exactly filled it, so that as she looked out, she presented very much 

 the appearance of an owl's face fastened against the side of the stub. 

 The hole was a foot deep, and eight inches in diameter at the bottom. 

 There was no nest except small chips of rotten wood and a few 

 owl's feathers. The bird would not leave the nest till she was 

 threatened with the hand several times, and then flew into the 

 nearest tree (a small hemlock), and sat there without moving during 

 all the time that her visitors remained, (about three-quarters of an 

 hour), and no sooner was the stub left, than she flew back again. 

 The eggs were pure white, nearly the same size at each end, and 

 averaged J. 16x0.97 inches. They were variously advanced in 

 incubation, though of course none were very far along. The 

 consistency of the albumen was particularly viscid, and the yolk 

 small and light colored. 



The second nest was found near Holland Patent, April 21st, 1886, 

 in a woodpecker's hole in a stub, forty feet from the ground, con- 

 tained five young, and one egg just on the point of hatching. 



The third nest was found the same day about half a mile below 

 Trenton Falls, near the West Canada Creek, in an old woodpecker's 

 hole in a stub, twenty feet from the ground. The hole was nine 

 inches deep, and nine inches across inside, lined with a few 

 feathers, birch leaves and chips. It contained seven eggs, nearly 

 hatched, measuring .97x1.18, .98x1.18, .98x1.24, .98x1.24, 

 .98x1.25, .99x1.21, 3.00x1.23. The bird was taken alive from 

 the nest. 



The fourth nest was found April 30th, 1886, about one mile 

 north of Gang Mills, Herkimer County, in a deserted woodpecker's 

 hole in a stub, fifty feet from the ground, in a swamp, and con- 

 tained seven eggs on the point of hatching. 



96. Megascops asio (LINN.). 373. 



Screech Owl. 



Not uncommon. Breeds. 



