Neiirlixg on Birds of Southeastern Texas. I 7 I 



species, but. on the contrary, is very often seen near farm houses. Espec- 

 iall}' abundant where during the previous winter or spring manj' trees 

 have been cut down; these they search for worms, and very soon have all 

 the bark hammered awav from them. They often excavate a hole for 

 their nest in a post oak, in a sycamore, and also in elms, often at a consider- 

 able height. The cavity is from lo to jo inches deep and so large that a 

 man can easily put his hand into it. The eggs, from four to six, are of a 

 brilliant white color. Only one brood is raised, and the young follow 

 their parents till late in the fall. 



119. Centurus carolinus Bo7iap. Red-bellied Woodpecker.— 

 Another very common Woodpecker. Its loud, harsh croaks, sounding 

 like crirr/f, are almost continually to be heard in the woods. Prefers 

 deciduous woods. It is resident throughout the year, and is not shv or of 

 retiring habits, but often visits the larger gardens. In the winter months 

 I have often observed them on the ground searching for insects, but it can 

 not walk as easily as Colaftcs auratiis. Breeds usually on the borders of 

 woods, and raises only one brood yearly. 



120. Melanerpes erythrocephalus Sxv. Red-headed Woodpecker. 

 — The most abundant of its family in and near Houston ; breeds commonly 

 in the city in sycamores, water and swamp oaks, and in magnolias along 

 Buffalo Baj'ou. Very confiding and tame; hammers often on houses and 

 stables, on church towers, telegraph posts, etc. Two broods are raised 

 each season. I have seen, late in August, young just from the nest. Once 

 I discovered the nest in a sycamore in a street, about fifteen feet from the 

 ground, the tree standing only, a few yards from a house. Resident 

 throughout the year. Many are killed by negro boys with so-called 

 "nigger-shooters," and not only this species, but also numberless other 

 birds are thus destroyed by them. 



121. Colaptes auratus Stf . Golden-winged Woodpecker; "Flick- 

 er." — -Rare during the breeding season, abundant in the winter months. 

 Frequently seen in pairs and small companies of from four to ten, and 

 even more. Spends its time during this season mostlj' on the ground, 

 where it searches for food. The first companies arrive late in October, 

 and they steadily increase in numbers till December, when they are ex- 

 ceedinglj'- abundant. They begin to migrate northward late in February. 



122. Ceryle alcyon Bote. Belted Kingfisher. — Seen only occa- 

 sionally. In the western part of Te.^as, where the rivers and creeks have 

 clear water, the bird is evidently more common. 



123. Coccyzus americanus Bonap. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. — 

 Common summer sojourner; breeds abundantly in the thickets on the 

 edges of woods, and is in this part of our country a very unsuspicious 

 bird, as it is not only often seen in gardens, but sometimes breeds in them, 

 in pomegranate bushes, in Baiiksta and Cherokee-rose thickets, etc. The 

 first nests I found late in April, the last, July 5. This, a typical nest for 

 this region, was placed in a young sweet-gum tree {^Liquidambar styraci- 



Jiua), about ten feet above the ground, and was almost hidden among 

 Smilax laurifolia. with which the tree was overgrown. It was built of 



