Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 547 



1907.— Noted September 11, 13, 22, and 29, and October 14, 

 17, 21, 28, and 30; and November 1. 



1913. — Observed or heard September 4, 11 to 15, 21, 23, and 

 29, and October 8, 12 and 28. 



80. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER 



SPHYRAPICUS VARIUS (Linnaeus) 



Apparently only a fall and spring visitant, and not often seen, 

 although its presence is evidenced by transverse rows of holes in 

 the linden and apple trees of the region. The senior author saw 

 3 or 4 at the lake April 6, 1885. One was noted on a trip to 

 Belong, September 30, 1900, one thought to be this species was 

 heard October 27, and another was noted east of the lake Novem- 

 ber 2. In the fall of 1913 one was seen near Chadwick's on Long- 

 Point September 5, 6, and 28. 



81. EED-HEADED WOODPECKER 



MELANERPES ERYTHROCEPHALUS (Linnaeus) 



One of the most common and cheery birds of the region, delight- 

 ing in the vicinity of cottages and farm dwellings about which 

 are found old trees; frequenting also the borders of woods adjacent 

 to fields or other open ground. It is a permanent resident and 

 may be seen in any month of the year. During the winter of 

 1900-1901, throughout which the junior writer was at the lake 

 continuously, the Redheads could be seen any day, and a few 

 probably remain every v/inter. They are, however, not so abund- 

 ant in winter as in summer, and, when the weather is particularly 

 severe, they seek the more protected places such as are afforded 

 by the timbered strips bordering the streams, and the denser 

 forests. 



With the return of warmer days they are more in evidence. 

 In the spring-time they are very active, flying about from tree to 

 tree, uttering their call notes, of which they have several quite dis- 

 tinct from each other. They then do a great deal of hammering 

 on dead limbs and upon the roofs of houses. They evidently select 

 limbs, shingles or other objects with considerable discrimination 

 with regard to the sonorous effect of their tattooing. Certain 

 shingles or boards in the roofs of buildings are used daily for a 

 fortnight or more. One bird discovered that the end of a stove- 

 pipe that projected from one of the cottages gave particularly fine 

 results and it was utilized with unusual frequency, and apparently 

 to the bird's great satisfaction. 



