226 Scienti/iG Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



same companionship may also be observed in spring though not 

 in so marked a manner. Both male and female assist in the 

 excavation of a nest-hole, the work being commenced early in 

 April ; two broods are produced in the season. During the 

 summer insects in their various stages are most commonly used 

 as food, but various ripe berries and seeds are preferred in autumn 

 and winter. 



Picus SCALARIS, Wagl. Texan Woodpecher. — This species, 

 which might suitably be called the prairie woodpecker, is common 

 and resident, but more abundant in summer than in winter. They 

 are never found in the dense timber, but frequent isolated trees 

 and coppices upon the prairie, breeding at all heights, from the 

 upper branches of tall trees to low half -rotten stumps within six 

 feet of the ground, and even where the country is very open, 

 making excavations in the upright posts of fences. They are 

 tame and fearless and will continue their search for food unmind- 

 ful of the near presence of an observer ; several may often be seen 

 together, especially on an old fence, where they obtain a rich 

 harvest from the concealed insects and larvae therein, and are thus 

 of great useln assisting to preserve the wood from their insidious 

 attacks ; during the autumn and winter they feed on berries and 

 seeds to a considerable extent. 



Sphyrapicus varius (Linn.) Yellow-bellied Woodpecker. — A 

 winter visitor in small numbers, arriving about the beginning of 

 November, and frequenting both the dense woodlands and the 

 prairie creeks ; it is generally solitary but sometimes a pair may 

 be observed together. With the exception of the usual drumming 

 noise, I never heard this woodpecker make any sound. Their 

 habits are similar to those of Picus pubescens, but they are much 

 more intolerant of observation, and seem to feed more on vegetable 

 products than that species, but this may not be the case in summer, 



Hylotomus pileatus (Linn.) Log-cock — The wood-chuck is 

 abundant and resident throughout our district, frequenting in 

 summer only the densest and most solitary recesses of the river 

 bottom, among which its loud screaming laugh may be heard at 

 all hours of the day : it is the most wary of all our birds, alwavs 

 on the lookout for danger, and suspicious of any unwonted sound ; 

 they are especially common in the neighbourhood of water. 

 During the winter they are often found in the post-oak woods, 



