80 



was seen December 24, by W. S. Blatchley. It has been seen or taken 

 several times since; all the dates . follow: November 3, 1887, J. Gra- 

 ham; February 13, 1892, two seen, one of which, a female, was taken, 

 A. B. Ulrey; one seen in 1898 and one about February 7, 1901, V. H. 

 Barnett; two seen and one, a male, taken January 20, 1903, by Mr. 

 Whitaker. The last specimen was winged and brought in alive. It 

 hammered to pieces the pine box used for a cage and escaped into 

 the streets. After several adventures it was with difficulty recaptured 

 and placed in a wire cage at the University. He tried to shatter this, 

 too, but of course was unsuccessful. His accuracy was shown by his 

 rein jstrdly packing a wire, not more than one-sixteenth of an inch 

 in diameter, which he hit squarely every time. He lived about three 

 days in captivity. Two of these noble birds were also seen on May 17, 

 1 '.:.:-!-. In a steady majestic flight they winged their way across some 

 fields and a highway that lay between two dense forests, their favorite 

 retreats. 

 79. [406] Mdanerpes erythrocephalus (lArm.), Red-headed Woodpecker.* 



Abundant summer resident; not uncommon winter resident. All of 

 the Redheads sometimes migrate in the fall, and leave us no winter 

 residents. Such was the case in the years 1892 and 1903. The autumn 

 of the latter year was noticeable for the very scanty production of 

 beechnuts and acorns. In 1893 after their winter's absence they were 

 first seen April 19 and became abundant April 28 and 29 (E. M. K.). 

 For three years prior to 1903 the Redhead was a very common winter 

 resident, in fact, the most common and most equally distributed winter 

 bird. It became common each year from the middle of February to the 

 1st of March. 



The mating call was heard as early as February 15, 1903. The 

 nest and five eggs were found May 29, 1903 (C. G. L.). 



Redheaded Woodpeckers are very quarrelsome, and are continually 

 'driving other birds from their favorite trees. Their attentions seem 

 especially directed against their little cousin, the Downy, although Jun- 

 cos, Tufted Titmice and Nuthatches are not slighted. They have been 

 observed to come to the ground to attack a Tufted Titmouse. They 

 are capable of making as large an animal as the Fox Squirrel beat 

 a hasty retreat. Sparrow Hawks, too, are put to flight, but the Red- 

 headed tyrant often finds his master in the English Sparrow. 



