M. ERYTHROCEPHALUS : RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 8 1 



persecution which so conspicuous an apparition invites 

 may have something to do with decreasing the numbers 

 of the species ; for certainly all persons with gun in 

 hand, on their collecting tours, cannot resist the temp- 

 tation of a shot at the beautiful creature, and the bird 

 itself is one which never seems to profit by the lesson 

 of danger notoriety teaches. It really belongs to more 

 southern and western regions, its numbers in summer 

 being greater in the Middle and even the Southern States 

 than they are in New England ; and though it has been 

 seen in each of our six States, it does not ordinarily 

 proceed beyond Massachusetts. It was formerly not 

 uncommon around Amherst, where I found several 

 pairs nesting, and heard of others, and Mr. Purdie 

 narrates that of late years numbers have occurred in 

 Eastern Massachusetts (Bull. Nutt. Club, vii, 1882, 

 p. 57). Even in Connecticut it is not so numerous 

 that Mr. Merriam did not consider it worth while to 

 specify various instances of its observation or capture 

 in that State, where there appear to have happened 

 various irruptions of the bird in considerable numbers, 

 but at irregular intervals. Notwithstanding such scar- 

 city on the confines of its distribution, and in spite of 

 the fact that this species is one of the most decidedly 

 migratory members of its tribe, it has been found 

 within our limits in winter, on more than one occasion 

 — as, for instance, about Boston during December, Jan- 

 uary and February. It cannot be considered exclusively 

 a visitor from the SoiUh, knowing, as we now do, its 

 range in New York State, as recently indicated by Dr. 

 Merriam (Bull. Nutt. Club, vii, 1882, pp. 57, 63). 



Wherever occurring at all in summer, it is not likely 

 to be found alone, but in pairs, and often in companies ; 



