44 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



overlooking the Cascade lakes, but evidently was not breeding nearer than 

 Taylor pond to the northeast of Whiteface, in 1905. 



Neither species of cuckoo was found in the forest, but it was learned that 

 they were sometimes observed in Keene Valley and in other places about 

 the edges of the woods. Kingfishers were found on all the lakes and streams, 

 but were decidedly uncommon on the heavily wooded waters. Wood- 

 peckers of all species known to the State, with the exception of the Red- 

 bellied woodpecker, were unquestionably breeding within 15 miles of Mt 

 Marcy. The Red-headed woodpecker was not found nearer than 3 miles 

 below Elk lake, and the Flicker is confined to clearings and slashings. 

 The Hairy woodpecker was decidedly more common than the Downy, 

 and next to the Yellow-bellied sapsucker, was probably the commonest 

 woodpecker in the forests. Sapsuckers were abundant and invariably 

 awoke us at dawn by their loud and continuous drumming. Many of 

 their nests containing young were found in beech and birch stubs, usually 

 about 25 feet from the ground, and almost without exception, under cover 

 of the dense woods. The Black -backed three-toed woodpecker was fairly 

 common and was found both in the spruce swamps about the lakes and on 

 the wooded ridges to an altitude of 3900 feet. The American three-toed 

 woodpecker was nearly as common as the Black -backed species, but only 

 two families of young were found, one of these being on the slope of Mt 

 Marcy at an altitude of 4000 feet. Pileated woodpeckers were not seen 

 by any of our party but were heard on three occasions, and we learned on 

 good authority, that they were breeding near St Huberts and at Boreas pond. 



Chimne}' swifts were common about clearings and old lumber camps, 

 their nests being fastened to the boards in the gable ends of the deserted 

 shacks. Hummingbirds were frequently noticed, both in the dense woods, 

 and the second growth about the lumber camps. Nighthawks were breed- 

 ing at Boreas pond and Elk lake, but whip-poor-wills were not living 

 nearer than the road from Elizabethtown to Placid. 



Kingbirds were observed at Elizabethtown, Keene Valley, Elk lake and 

 Boreas pond; Crested flycatchers, at Elizabethtown and North River. 



