156 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the Red-headed woodpecker appear in a cherry tree when the first cherries 

 began to turn, although I had not seen a Redhead in the neighborhood 

 for weeks before. I never could determine whether he remembered that 

 at this season of the year ripe cherries were to be found in that particular 

 locality, or whether he saw them from a distance and noticed the robins 

 going and coming from the trees; but, however that may be, he always 

 found the first ripe cherries in the orchard and would carry them all day 

 long to his young in the grove three-fourths of a mile away. My early 

 harvest, sweet bough and red astrachan apples were also eagerly sought. 

 In spite of this small thieving, and his occasional attacks upon the 

 young of other birds, the Red-headed woodpecker must be regarded 

 as a beneficial species. He destroys immense niombers . of grasshop- 

 pers, ants and boring beetles of all kinds which are to be found about 

 the branches and trunks of trees, and the principal portion of his vegetable 

 diet consists of wild nuts and fruit. Furthermore, he is one of the most 

 enlivening objects in the landscape and furnishes an added pleasure to any 

 stroll across the fields or drive along the country road, for he is a bird that 

 everyone will see and recognize at a considerable distance. ^ The nest of the 

 Red-headed woodpecker is excavated in the dead limb of a tree or in 

 a stub, usually at a height of from 15 to 50 feet from the ground. The 

 opening is about 2 inches in diameter and the depth of the hole from 10 

 to 14 inches. The eggs are from 4 to 6 in number and deposited on 

 the fine, clean chips at the bottom of the hole. The eggs are white like 

 those of all woodpeckers, and measure i by .76 inches in dimensions. 

 In the different portions of the State they are depjsited from May 10 

 to June 15. 



