WOODPECKERS, CUCKOOS, ETC. «85 



another tree at more or less distance, thus spending the day 

 in rambling over a large range. Its cries also somewhat 

 resemble those of the species just mentioned, but are louder 

 and more shrill, like those of some quadruped suffering 

 great pain. It very frequently makes sorties after flying 

 insects, which it secures in the air with as much ease as the 

 red-headed woodpecker. Besides insects, it also feeds on 

 berries and other small fruits. 



" Its rapid, gliding flight is deeply undulated. Now and 

 then it will fly from a detached tree of a field to a consid- 

 erable distance before it alights, uttering at every dip a 

 loud, shrill note. 



" The nest of this species is generally bored in the body 

 of a sound tree, near its first large branches. I observed no 

 particular choice as to timber, having seen it in oaks, pines, 

 etc. The nest, like that of allied species, is worked out by 

 both sexes, and takes fully a week to complete, its usual 

 depth being from twenty to twenty-four inches. It is 

 smooth and broad at the bottom, although so narrow at its 

 entrance as to appear scarcely sufiicient to enable one of the 

 birds to enter. Only one brood is raised in the season. The 

 young follow their parents until autumn, when they sepa- 

 rate and shift for themselves." (Audubon.) 



YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER 



The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ranges throughout east- 

 ern North America, breeding in Massachusetts, Illinois, and 

 north, wintering from Virginia to Central America. 

 . This is the only sapsucker occurring east of the Great 



