THE WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKEE. 71 



In the Blue Mountains, near Camp Harney, Oregon, this species was rare, but I 

 found two nests there, one on May 25, 1875, containing two fresh eggs, in a 

 dead hmb of a pine, and about 25 feet from the ground. The other was found 

 on May 6, 1877, containing four fresh eggs; the cavity was located in a dead 

 pine stump, about 15 feet from the ground, near Ruby's sawmill, on the Canyon 

 City road, at an altitude of about 5,500 feet; it was about 10 inches deep, the 

 entrance hole being circular and about 1| inches in diameter; the eggs were 

 placed on a layer of fine chips, and, I believe, were the first described of this 

 species. 



Mr. L. Belding writes: "Common in the fir forests of the Sierra Nevada 

 from about 4,000 feet upward; most numerous at about 5,000 feet. Rare in 

 the tamaracks. * * * Its burrows are often within 2 or 3 feet of the 

 ground. I have seen two nests in cuts for shakes or shingles, made after the 

 tree was sawed into sections, and one in a small, short stub of a dogwood (Cormis 

 nuttalli); May 25, 1879, first full set of eggs taken at Big Trees. At i31oods, 

 7,200 feet altitude, I have taken them as late as July 17. The eggs are 

 usually four, although I have seen five. In winter it is found sparingly in the 

 upper edge of the foothills, at 3,000 feet altitude. I found it rather common 

 about Big Trees in the mild January of 1879, until 2 feet, of snow fell, after 

 which none were seen." ^ 



It is found on both sides of the Sierra Nevadas, but seems to be much more 

 common on the western slope. Mr. F. Stephens wi-ites me: '■'■Xenopicus alholar- 

 vatus is a resident of the pine regions of southern California, but is not common 

 excepting possibly in a few localities. I have never observed it below the pines. 

 I have taken incubating birds in June in the Cuyamaca Mountains at altitudes 

 of about 7,000 feet. The nesting sites here were in very large dead pine trees 

 and inaccessible. The white head makes the bird easily recognizable; its notes 

 are somewhat different from those of other Woodpeckers in this region, and seem 

 to me more like those oi Dryohates arizoiKB. On June 19, 1893, I found a nest 

 of this bird in the San Jacinto Mountains, at an altitude of about 5,800 feet, in 

 a rotten pine stub about 9 feet from the ground; it contained three young of 

 different ages, the eldest being able to fly a very little." 



Mr. Rollo H. Beck informs me that he found this species fairly common in 

 the pine timber near the road from Murphy's to the Yosemite Valley, California, 

 and that he discovered three nests with young on June 8, 1893. These were all 

 located in cavities in dead pine stumps, from 6 to 15 feet from the ground. A 

 nest containing three fresh eggs was also discovered in a similar stump only 4 

 feet from the groinid, the cavity being 8 inches deep. He writes also : "I noticed 

 one of these birds on some fallen logs near the road, busily engaged in catching 

 spiders, searching for grubs, and frequently flying- after passing insects, catching 

 them in mid-air in the manner of the California Woodpecker." 



Dr. James C. Merrill, United States Army, makes the following interesting 

 remarks about this species, as observed by him at Fort Klamath, and as these 

 entirely agree with my own, I give them entire: 



'Land Birds of the Pacific District, California Academy of Sciences, II, 1890, p. 63. 



