PJRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



171 



at work in this cavity. Having- heard the bird working, I approached the 

 tree cautiously, and stood back of a neighboring- tree, whose thick branches, 

 with their abundant covering- of " long- moss" (Tittandsia usneoides), en- 

 tirely concealed my person from this woodchopper's keen eye. I watched, 

 and soon saw its large bill clasping- a chip appear at the opening- of the 

 cavity, in another instant the head and neck were protruded, and after 

 taking a quick survey of all surroundings, as if to assure herself that no 

 enemy was a witness to her industry and vigilance, the chip was dropped 

 down and the bird resumed her digging. After she had thus reap- 

 peared several times with pieces of wood, and always manifested the same 

 caution before dropping the chips, I, when she again came in view, made 

 a slight noise, but did not show myself, when immediately she dropped 

 back into the cavity and did not again continue her labors or show her- 

 self, although I remained quiet for several minutes. As the dinner horn 

 had sounded some time before, I deemed it more important to attend to 

 the wants of the inner man than to continue to wait for the bird to re- 

 new her work, and picking up a piece of shell rock I threw it against the 

 limb, when she flew out uttering a shrill cry. 



These birds feed largely on beetles and their larvae, which are so 

 abundant in dead trees. Wild grapes, berries and acorns are also some- 

 times eaten. 



The following list shows most of the counties in this state where the 

 Pileated Woodpecker is frequently met with : 



* Pileated Woodpeckers have also been seen or heard by the writer, during the past two years, in the 

 counties of Armstrong, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Elk, Jefferson, Forest and Potter: in some parts of Cen- 

 tre, Elk. Forest and Potter this bird is often seen. 



