THE PILEATED WOODPBCKBE. 105 



head downward, and, stretching his neck to one side, managed to reach the 

 berries. Not unfrequentlv they search for food on the ground, usually alighting 

 low down on a trunk and dropping backward, a few inches at a time, till they 

 reach the base, where they search among the chips, etc., but constantly looking 

 up with the most knowing glances, as if to say that they Avere not to be sur- 

 prised in such a proceeding. I have never seen this species east of the Rocky 

 Mountains in Montana." 



I have seen this species in but few localities in the West, and with but 

 one exception I always found the Pileated Woodpecker extremely shy and 

 difficult to approach. In the latter part of June, 1882, I found a nest containing 

 four young about one-half mile southeast from Fort Klamath, Oregon, and I 

 noticed this family on several occasions afterwards in the heavy pine timber in 

 the vicinity of the Post. These birds were not shy, and I could readily have 

 shot them all, but refrained, hoping they ^vould nest in the neighborhood again 

 next season, which they, however, failed to do. The ordinary call note is a loud 

 "cack-cack-cack," several times repeated; another resembles the "chuck-up" of 

 the Red-shafted Flicker, only somewhat slower, louder, and clearer; others 

 again remind me of the cackling- of a domestic hen. One of its love notes, 

 according to Mr. A. Nelu'ling, sounds like "a-wuck, a-wuck," and one of alarm, 

 or auger, like "ha-hi, ha-hi." It is very noisy during the mating season and 

 indulges in a good deal of drumming at this time of year. I believe they 

 remain mated tlirough life, and pairs are more frequently seen than single birds. 



Its food consists of the different species of' boring- beetles and their larvtB 

 infesting timbered tracts, and of ants, many of which it captures on the ground; 

 it also feeds on wild grapes, the berries of the black gum, dogwood, pokeweed, 

 service berries, acorns, beechnuts, and chestnuts. Considered from an economic 

 point of view, it does far more good than harm, and only attacks decaying and 

 fallen timber. In the mountains of Oregon, and presumably in other localities, 

 the Pileated Woodpecker is most frequently met with in the extensive burnt 

 tracts, the so-called "deadenings," Avhere forest fires have swept through miles 

 of fine timber and killed everything in its path. Such localities afford this 

 species an abundant food supply in the slowly decaying trees, and are sure to 

 attract them. I have seen the sun obscured for weeks at Fort Klamath by 

 the dense smoke caused by such a fire, which raged in the Cascade Mountains, 

 near Diamond Park, some 50 miles north of the Post, in August, 1883. The 

 bright scarlet crests of these birds were in former years highly prized b}^ many 

 of the Indian tribes in our Northwestern States, being used as ornaments on 

 their war bonnets, and these birds were eagerly hunted for this purpose. Its 

 flight is both strong and swift at times, but, as a rule, when at ease it is slow and 

 crow-like, rather more direct and not s© undulating as that of most of our 

 Woodpeckers, and is often protracted for long distances. 



In southern Florida the mating season commences early in March, and 

 farther north correspondingly later. A suitable tree having been selected, gen- 

 erally a dead one in large and extensive woods, both birds work alternately 

 on the nesting site. This is usuallv excavated in the main trunk, from 12 to 75 



