MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 363 



both these phases of plumage. All three young birds were unmistakably 

 koels. 



Unidentified species. 



An egg found in June 5 in a nest of Fyctorhis sinensis, with two eggs of 

 the latter, is somewhat elliptical, with little gloss and measures 0-80" x 

 0-58". The ground colour is a very pale pink, with pinkish spots or 

 mottlings all over but especially at the big end and very few darker spots 

 or streaks. 



I am inclined to attribute this egg to a Chrysococcyx, probably C. .can- 

 thorJiynchus but I did not observe this bird. 



B. B. OSMASTON, i.f.s. 

 Maymyo, September 1915. 



No. XIV.— CURIOUS HABITS OF WOOD-PECKERS IN THE 

 KUMAON HILLS. 



Those who know the hill forests of Garhwal may have noticed at one 

 time or another rows of small neat holes made in lines across the stems of 

 trees. They may be seen at any height up to at least 30 feet from the 

 ground and the rows are nearly always quite horizontal. Each row con- 

 sists of perhaps a dozen holes, half an inch or so apart, and the rows may be 

 any distance down to a few inches one above the other. Often the dis- 

 tance apart is repeated with remarkable accuracy and in this case the rows 

 are not separated as a rule by more than 6 to 8 inches. The holes them- 

 selves are more or less rounded and about ^ to ^ inch across in section and 

 they invariably pierce through the bark to at least half its thickness, but 

 never in any circumstances enter the woody tissue beneath. 



For the last few years I have been endeavouring to discover what it is 

 that forms these holes and why they are formed. A general answer to the 

 first question is fairly easily given. The holes are undoubtedly formed by 

 wood-peckers. The species of wood-pecker responsible for this work of art 

 and what his objective may be are questions not so easily disposed of. 



If these holes be examined it will be found that they only occasionally 

 show signs of recent attack. In by far the majority of cases the holes have 

 been made some months or years previously and do not show any obvious 

 signs of having been tampered with since. Such holes may extend only half 

 way through the bark, but more frequently they extend right down to the 

 delicate cambium layer separating the cortical from the woody tissue. 

 Again, some of them will be found empty whilst others will contain a core 

 of secondary growth tissue which may have completely filled up the lower 

 half of the original cavity. This tissue is usually soft and spongy and 

 sometimes tinged green. Where no such core of secondary tissue is present 

 the bottom of the hole may contain a soft fungal growth which is usually 

 white. 



In some cases, however, the holes show signs of a recent visit. This is 

 recognised by evidence of a fresh incision into the secondary growth tissue 

 at the base of the cavity. 



The species of tree attacked in the above manner are fairly numerous, 

 but some trees are attacked very much more than others whilst some 

 again are probably never attacked. The following are the trees most 

 frequently found attacked in Garhwal : — 

 Ilex dipyrena. 

 Litscea umbrosa. 

 Cornus macrophylla . 

 Pyrus 2Mshia. 

 Pnmus padus. 



