578 NORTH AMERICAN BI-RDS. 



It is probably true that tliey usuiilly excavate their own burrow, but tliis 

 is not an invariable rule. In the tall of 1870 a pair of tliese Wooilpeckers 

 took slielter in my burn, remaining there during tlie winter. Although tiiere 

 were abundant mean,s of entriincti and of egre.ss, they wrought for themselve.s 

 other pa.ssages out and in through the nio.st solid part of tlie side.s of the 

 building. Early in the spring they took possession of a large cavity in an 

 old api)le-tr('e, directly on the path between tlie l)arn and tiie iiouse, where 

 they reared their family. They were very .shy, and rarely ]>ernutted them- 

 selves to be seen. The nest contained six young, each of which had been 

 hatched at successive intervals, leaving the nost one after the other. The 

 youngest was nearly a fortnight later to depart than the first. Just before 

 leaving tiie nest, the oldest bird climbed to the 02)ening of the cavity, filling 

 the whole space, and uttering a loud hissing sound whenever the nest was 

 approached. As soon as they could use their wings, even partially, they 

 weri; removed, one by one, to a more retired part of tiie grounds, where they 

 were feil by their parents. 



Throughout ^lassaciiusetts, this bird, generally known as the Pigeon 

 Woodpecker, is one of the most common and familiar birds. They abound 

 in old orciiards and groves, and manifest more appaient confidence in man 

 than the treatment tluiy receive at his hands seems to justify. Their nests 

 are usually constructed at the distance of only a few feet from the ground, 

 and though Wilson, Audul)on, and Xuttall agree upon six as the average 

 of their eggs, they frecpiently exceed this immber. Mr. Audubon gives as 

 the measurement of the eggs of this species 1.08 inches in length and .88 

 of an inch in breadth. Their length varies from 1.05 to 1.15 inches, find 

 tlicir breadth from .91 to .85 of an inch. Their average measurement 

 is 1.09 by .88 of an inch. 



Colaptes mexicanus, Swainson. 



BED-SHAFTED FIICKES. 



Colaptes mexicanux, S\v. Syii. Mcx. Birds, in Pliilos. Mag. I, 1827, 440. — In. F. T5or. Am. 

 II, 1831, 315. — NKWHKituv, Zoiil. Cul. & Or. Routo, 91 ; P. U. K. Kop- VI, ISST. — 

 Baiud, Uinls N. Am. 18r.8, I'io. —Max. Cab. .lour. 1858, 420, mixtd with hiihrUliis. 

 — Loud, Proe. K. Art. Iii.st. I, iv, 112. — Cooi'Kit & Sucklky, 163. — Soi.atkii, 

 P. Z. S. 1858, 309 '.Oaxaca). — In. Cat. 1862, 344. — Dkk.s.sf.I!, Ibi.s, 1865, 470 (San 

 Antonio, rareV — Coue.s, Pr. A. N. S. 1866, X. — SiiMlcilUAsr, Mem. Best. See. I, 

 1869, 562 (alpine ilistriot. Vera Crnz). — C.uay, Cat. 1868, 121. — Dam, & Baxxistki!, 

 Pr. Cliioago Ac. I, 1869, 275 (Aliiska). —Cool-Kit, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 408. Picnit mr.vi- 

 amies, Aru. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 174, pi. ecccxvi. — In. Birds America, IV, 1842, 295, 

 pi. cclxxiv. — ,St:NM)KVAt.i,, Consp. 72. Oolnpfrscollarh, Vioons, Zoiil. .Tour. IV, .Tnn. 

 1829, 353. — In. Zoiil. Beechey's Voy. 1839, 24, jd. i\. Picas nhrlmtiis, Waoi.ei!, 

 Isis, 1829, V, May, 516. (" Lichtenstein Mus. Berol.") Colaphs ruhrkntus, Bon. Pr. 

 Zoiil. Soc. V, 1837, 108. — In. List, 1838. — In. Conspectus, 1850, 114. .? Picmcafei; 

 Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 431. - Latit. Index Ornitli. II, 1790, 242. ? KfiM 

 laihami, Wagleu, Syst. 1827, No. 85 (Cajie of Good Hope ?). 



