ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 77 



Genus MELANERPES Swain. 



182-4-0(5(453). Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Linn). *Red-headed Woodpecker. 

 Exceedingly abundant; summer resident; April, rarely March, to Sept.; occasional in 

 winter; " often found apparently lifeless in winter, but recovers with warmth" (Dr. W. 

 C. Brownell); throughout the state; "Mackinac Island " (S. E. White); "common at 

 Iron Mountain" (E. E. Brewster); "Keweenaw Point" (Kneeland); breeds abundantly; 

 nests as usual; eggs five to six; often destroys much fruit, especially cherries; eats 

 grain, especially corn; yet is our friend. Forbes found (Michigan Hort. Soc. Report, 

 1881, p. 204) that 32 per cent of the food of these birds, which he examined, consisted 

 of canker worms. " I have seen this bird destroy the eggs of the Bluebird and Phoebe" 

 (S.E.White). , 



183^t09-(450). Melanerpes carolinns {Linn.). *Red-bellied Woodpeokek. 



Common, though rare, except in wooded fields; Southern Peninsula; found at all 



seasons; common from May to August; breeds; nests in May, in holes, often twenty 



inches deep, usually in rotten wood; eggs four to six. glossy white. See O. and O., Vol. 



XVI, p. 48. 



Genus COLAPTES Swain. 



184^4 12-(457). Colaptes anratns (Linn.). *High Holder; Flicker; Yellow 

 Hammer; Golden-winged Woodpecker. 

 Formerly very abundant on the college campus, now less common; throughout the 

 state; April to Sept.; occasional at all seasons; reported from Benzie and Presque 

 Isle Counties and Thunder Bay; "very common in Grand Traverse County '' (M. L. 

 Leach); "Mackinac Island" (S. E. White); "Keweenaw Point" (Kneeland); "thirty 

 miles north of Mackinaw " (A. H. Wood, O. and O., Vol. IX, p. 62); " common at Iron 

 Mountain" (E. E. Brewster); breeds abundantly; eggs glossy white, five to ten; if eggs 

 are removed daily this bird will often lay as many as thirty, which we have proved at 

 this place; J. B. Purdy in like way has taken twenty-seven from a nest; "feeds abund- 

 antly on ants, which it takes from the ground" (E. L. Moseley); "nests in holes, often 

 of apple trees, four to six feet from the ground "' (Dr. J. B. Steere); Geo. D. Sones says 

 that this bird is often shot for the table. 



Order MACROCHIRES. Goatsuckers, Swifts, etc. 



Very valuable insectivorous birds. 



Suborder CAPRIMULGI. Goatsuckers, etc. 

 Family CAPRIMULGID^E. Goatsuckers, etc. 

 Feed wholly on insects; all beneficial. 



Genus ANTROSTOMUS Gould. 



Whip-poor-will, reduced. 



