OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 141 



arc constructed in the tops of large decaying trees. The 

 young are said to keep together for some time after leaving 

 the nest, four or five being often seen playing about the same 

 tree, awaiting food. 



Decidedly the best description of the breeding habits of 

 this species we remember to have seen, is from the pen of 

 Mr. William Brewster of Massachusetts. This close ob- 

 server has found these Woodpeckers throughout the White 

 Mountains of New Hampshire, and in Northern Maine, 

 where they outnumber all other species in the summer sea- 

 son. Their arrival in these northern latitudes, varies from the 

 middle to the end of April ; pairing is soon effected, and 

 closely followed by the excavation of their nests. Large 

 dead birch-trees are ordinarily selected, in the vicinity of 

 water, for which a strong predilection is manifested, al- 

 though nests frequently occur on elevated ground in the midst 

 of forests. The labor is performed by both birds, who relieve 

 each other at brief intervals. The bird that is disengaged, is 

 usually found clinging close by the hole, and encouraging its 

 busy partner by an occasional note. As the hole deepens, 

 the accumulating debris is removed at frequent intervals, the 

 bird appearing at the entrance with a mouthful of chips 

 which it drops, and then resumes its work. The time occu- 

 pied in boring, varies according to the relative . hardness of 

 the wood, and continues for a week, or even a greater period. 

 The bottom of the nest is covered with a few of the finer 

 chips, which serve as a bed for the eggs. The birds are said 

 to take a vacation for awhile, which they spend in roaming 

 together through the surrounding woods, in quest of food : 

 although, ordinarily, one or the other stays at home to guard 

 the premises. Laying usually commences about the 2Oth 

 of May ; the complement of eggs varying from five to seven. 

 The labor of incubation is equally divided between the sexes. 



In his description of several nests, w r hich he encountered 

 in a recent trip to Maine, Mr. Brewster says they were all of 

 a "uniform gourd-like shape with the sides very smoothly 



