3l6 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



of it as rare at Port Sydney in 1890, but increasing rapidly ; in 

 1893 it was rare at Emsdale, but has become much commoner, 

 (y. H. Fleming!) Fairly cotnmon in all the western peninsula of 

 Ontario. Abundant in many parts, but not so much so near 

 London as formerly, the decrease beginning about 1878. It 

 spends the winter here in considerable numbers if food condi- 

 tions are favourable. (W. E. Saunders!) 



A rare summer resident in Manitoba, but commoner eastward. 

 {Thompson-Seton!) In May, 1895, ^^^^ species was seen at Old 

 Wives' Creek, in eastern Assiniboia ; also at Wood Mountain 

 Post, and observed breeding at " Stone Pile " on the White Mud 

 River, Assa., in June, 1895 ! ^ P^i"" were found breeding on the 

 east end of the Cypress Hills in June, 1894 ; the same year one 

 was seen at Crane Lake and another at Medicine Hat, Assa.; a 

 pair seen at Pass Creek, near Robson, Columbia River, B.C., 

 June 25th, 1890. {Macoun!) 



Breeding Notes. — A common summer resident in Ontario. 

 Very plentiful along the St. Lawrence, on Wolfe Island and else- 

 where, becoming rarer northward in the county of R-infrew. It 

 occasionally stays all winter. In the mild winter of 1890 I 

 saw two several times in a sugar bush of large maples in the 

 township of Escott, Leeds Co., Ont.- Also at the same sugar 

 bush I noticed one in December, 1899. It is a late breeder, sel- 

 dom having eggs before June, and making its nest-hole high up 

 in the dead limb of a large tree. I have only once or twice seen 

 the nest within ten feet of the ground. {Rev. C.J. Young!) Nest 

 taken in woods near Ottawa. It was a hole in a tree and con- 

 tained four pure white eggs laid on a bed of chips and dust. 

 {G. R. White.) At Rice Lake, Ont.; June loth, 1902, I found this 

 bird more plentiful than the common flicker, nesting in decayed 

 tree stubs. {W. Raine.) Mr. G. A. Dunlop found a nest with 

 eggs of this species at Lachine, and I came across it breeding in 

 a hole of a dead tree along a fence, between two woods at Longue 

 Pointe, May 24th, 1889. I shot the female bird at the time for a 

 specimen. I have not met with this conspicuously coloured wood- 

 pecker in the autumn season, and therefore I infer it departs south 

 as soon as its young are reared and able to migrate. {Wi7itle.) Is 

 perhaps the latest of our woodpeckers to breed, seldom laying 

 before June. It lays five to seven eggs of very variable size and 

 shape, at varying heights from the ground, ranging from two to 

 at least sixty feet. {W. E. Saunders.) 



