44 PROCEEDINGS MANCHESTER INSTITUTE 



74. Picoides americanus atnericanus. Three-toed 

 Woodpecker. 



A rare resident. This species has been found mostly in the 

 same two localities as the preceding, the Jefferson Notch and 

 Mt. Starr King. In six of the last seven years a single bird, or 

 a pair, has been seen in the Notch. Three of the seasons fur- 

 nish two records or more. In 1905, a pair nested by the road- 

 side in a spruce stub just below the highest point of the pass on 

 the southerly declivity, the nest-hole being apparent to one 

 passing by, whose attention would be attracted by the chatter- 

 ing young within. On July 5 we were in this way made aware 

 of it. The male bird was engaged in feeding the young and 

 showed no concern over our near approach. We could see the 

 heads of the young birds raised for food. Two days later we 

 saw the feeding done by the female bird. The nest-hole was 

 about fifteen feet from the ground on the westerly side of the 

 tree. Neither parent bird was disturbed by our standing directly 

 under the nest when it came with food, but perform^ed its errand 

 and departed. In this instance, at least, the parent birds showed 

 an entire absence of fear, and on other occasions when met by 

 the roadside they have allowed near approach without manifest- 

 ing alarm. In the case of all three nestings of the preceding 

 species the parent birds were much excited by our presence, 

 called loudly, refrained from going to the nest while we were near, 

 and the male bird by much demonstration endeavored to lead 

 us away from the nest, excitedly calling and moving in a differ- 

 ent direction, going on before us by short flights. The chatter- 

 ing of the young birds served, however, in all these cases to 

 make the locating of the nest easy. The calls of the americanus 

 male bird were not excited or loud. The single calls were some- 

 what like the robin's call at dusk, and the rattling calls resem- 

 bled a Hairy Woodpecker's rattle, but were less loud and sharp. 

 Six days later, when we made our next trip through the Notch, 

 there was no chattering of the young and none of the family 

 were seen. 



