120 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 



to fly, the whole family were taken, and now graces the private collection of a 

 resident of the town." 



On October i8, 1913, an immature bird was seen at Swampscott by Mr. J. 

 D. Sornborger. 



On September 2, 1917, a Red-headed Woodpecker was reported at Salem, 

 and during the summer of 1918, from June to September 8, one was frequently 

 to be seen at the Salem Golf Links. 



184 [412a] Colaptes auratus luteus Bangs. 



Northern Flicker; " Golden -winged Woodpecker"; 

 "Pigeon Woodpecker." 



Resident, very common in summer, not uncommon in winter. 

 Eggs: May 20 to June 20. 



The mellow rolling song of the Flicker varies much in length, in time, and in 

 expression. It is sometimes given on the wing. Each song or series of rolls 

 lasting from four to nine seconds may be given four times a minute. The time is 

 sometimes so slow that the notes in a series may be counted. The bill is only 

 slightly elevated and slightly opened at this time. The direction of the head is 

 often changed during a series of songs and this gives a ventriloquial effect as if 

 the song were coming from different places. The drumming with the bill on 

 posts, dead limbs, tin roofs, and chimney pots indulged in by the Flicker may be 

 classed as instrumental music. I have observed a bird abruptly stop in the vocal 

 performance and change to the mechanical drumming. 



The actual courtship attitudinizing and dance is well known and has often 

 been described. 



The habit of boring holes in wooden structures mentioned in the original 

 Memoir was illustrated in rather an amazing way in the spring of 1913 at Ips- 

 wich, when the water was pumped by my windmill into the tank. It spouted out 

 through two holes evidently made by Flickers during the winter. 



Although the Flicker spends much of its time on the ground it has not learned 

 to walk but hops on its short legs. Tracks in the sand in the dunes show this. 

 One foot is generally a little ahead of the other and the toes awkwardly turned out. 



The feet are so small and the flight of the Flicker so swift that I have been 

 unable to determine the position of the feet in flight, but from the investigations 

 of Finn^ it may be inferred that all woodpeckers carry their feet in front. 



1 Finn, F. Proc. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, p. 105, March, i{ 



