ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 67 



and deserted holes of the Golden-winged (Colaptes auratus) and 

 Pileated (ffi/lotomus pileatus) Woodpeckers. At length, in response 

 to a couple of sharp blows, the beautiful crimson-fronted head of a 

 male Sphyrapicus appeared in the mouth of its hole, and the bird, 

 after eying us curiously for a moment, launched out into the air 

 and alighted on a neighboring tree. A few moments' consultation 

 decided that the tree must be felled, as the hole was at least forty 

 feet up, and the trunk so rotten that it was manifestly impossible 

 to ascend with safety. All the Maine guides are adepts with the 

 axe, and on this occasion but a short time elapsed before the already 

 tottering trunk began to show signs of giving way. Both birds 

 (for the female had appeared at the first alarm) repeatedly entered 

 the hole, and clung against the now quivering trunk, uttering their 

 peculiar snarling cry. A few more vigorous blows and the huge 

 tree began to decline, then, gathering momentum, descended with 

 fearful force, burying its full length for a moment beneath the sur- 

 face and half filling the boat with water. So nicely had its fall 

 been calculated that it came down in clear water exactly between 

 two other trunks which stood within six feet of each other, and 

 without touching either. To cut out the hole was now a matter 

 of little difficulty, and to our delight we found the three eggs which 

 it contained entirely uninjured. Subsequent experiments of a sim- 

 ilar nature were, however, less successful. 



" Continuing our search, we soon discovered another nest in a tall 

 dead birch, the hole from which the bird emerged being at least 

 fifty feet above the water. This tree was, after careful inspection, 

 pronounced climbable, and the guide, with characteristic coolness, 

 filling and lighting his short pipe, commenced to 'swarm' up, 

 puffing out dense clouds of smoke as he ascended. Reaching the 

 hole, he quickly and adroitly attached a rope to the trunk, and, 

 tying a loop in the end to form a stirrup, stood in this and cut out 

 the cavity with his axe. This nest contained six perfectly fresh 

 eggs, all of which were brought down in safety. Proceeding in this 

 way, five more nests were discovered, but only two sets of eggs 

 secured, as three of the trees had to be felled, and in each instance 

 with disastrous results." 



All nests examined upon this occasion were of uniform gourd-like 

 shape, with the sides very smoothly and evenly chiselled. They 

 averaged about fourteen inches in depth by five in diameter at the 

 Widest point, while the diameter of the exterior hole varied from 



