838 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



bill, dark. Adult Female. Similar, but with fore part of head black- 

 ish, and red stripe at base of lower mandible wanting. 



Length, 15.15-19.00; wing, 8.90-10.00; tail, 6.60-7.40. 



RANGE. Formerly the heavily-wooded region of North America, 

 south of about latitude 63 degrees, and Mexico, except in the southern 

 Rocky Mountains; now rare or extirpated in the more thickly settled 

 parts of the Eastern States. 



Nest, excavation in tree. Eggs, 3-5; glossy white; 1.28 by .95. 



Resident, confined to the more heavily-timbered and more inacces- 

 sible portions of the State. Rarely breeds. It was formerly very com- 

 mon, but disappears before civilization. To the older settlers it was 

 known as "Logcock," and "Black Woodcock." It is about thirty 

 years since I can hear of its occurrence in Franklin County. In 1890 

 I reported it from several counties in which it had been noted, or 

 taken mostly within five years preceding (Proc. Ind. Hort. Soc., 1890, 

 p. 59). From the following, I have no more recent record: Vigo, 

 Dekalb, Decatur, Allen, and Gibson. Since that time it is reported 

 from the following counties: Boone and Fountain; specimens in col- 

 lection of the State Museum; Knox, rare, 1894, February 4, May 24, 

 October 19, one; spring of 1897, two. I saw one fly through the 

 main street of Carlisle, Ind., August 14, 1897 (Chansler). Brown, 

 1894, rare (Kindle), May 24, one (Barnett); 1895, April 6, two; April 

 15, April 16, very few (Miss Jacobs). Monroe, 1892, February 13, 

 saw two, took female (Ulrey); Porter, 1894, December 5, saw a male 

 killed by George Wilcox, at Kouts; 1896, December 11, I saw three 

 near same town (J. G. Parker, Jr.). 



Mr. C. E. Aiken also informed me he obtained a specimen at Water 

 Valley, Lake County, where it was rare, a few years ago. I have no 

 doubt of its occurrence in limited numbers still in Gibson and, per- 

 haps, several other counties in southwestern Indiana. In fact, it may 

 exist wherever there are extensive woods that are not much frequented. 

 They are more liable to be seen in winter, as the leafless woods and 

 their tendency to range to some extent for food then makes them 

 more conspicuous. Mr. H. Nehrling gives an account of these birds, 

 which every one who has known them in our State will recognize as 

 his own experience. He says: "The Pileated Woodpeckers were con- 

 stantly at work; with powerful strokes they hammered off the bark 

 and captured their insect prey. Their beauty, activity and docility 

 excited my admiration. When I approached one of them too closely, 

 it uttered a loud and laughing ha-he, ha-he, and then took wing. It is 

 very noisy during mating season, and indulges a good deal of it 6 time 

 in drumming on a dry, hollow limb. Its call-note sounds like, a-wicJc, 



