- 
522 General Notes. [ August, 
vania, and of the Carboniferous Formation throughout the United 
States. It will be invaluable to all those who wish to identify 
coal plants, as 260 species are figured. The Botanical Gazette 
contains a note on the influence of the scion on the stock, by T. 
Meehan, with a number of other notices. Trimen’s Yournal of 
Botany prints a note on the morphology of the Characez, by S. 
H. Vines 
ZOOLOGY. ! 
HABITS OF THE RED-HEADED WoopPECKER.— During the past 
three or four years much has been written in regard to t 
changes which are taking place in the habits of the red-headed 
woodpecker—“ a versatile bird,” to quote the apt characterization 
of Dr. Elliott Coues. This bird is quite common here, though 
am of the opinion that it is not seen in as large numbers as it was 
when the country was first settled, some twenty-two years ago. I 
have often seen them about my barn- -yard industriously picking > 
up corn which had been shelled for the swine. Generally the ~ 
bird alights and secures a single grain, and then flies off to the 
nearest tree-top to peck it into pieces and devour it at his leisure, 
returning for others at frequent intervals. I have often watched 
them while they were making a score of these little journeys. In 
1877 this region was overrun with grasshoppers, upon which the 
red-headed woodpeckers feasted royally while they lasted. I saw. 
the birds out on the prairie, a mile or two from the timber, so 
intent upon catching the ‘hoppers that they scarcely noticed one 
in passing. Sometimes they would catch a hopper on the wing, 
dodging around in a very lively manner to secure the insect, and 
again they would hunt for their prey on the ground. The insect 
secured, the bird would alight on a fence-post and devour it. I 
have occasionally seen them, attended by their progeny, in the 
open fields, where the old birds were engaged in catching insects 
for the clamorous younglings, which had not yet learned to pro- 
vide for themselves. It would seem that, at the time the young 
birds require so much food, the old ones would need some readier 
means of supply than would be afforded by pecking for grubs in 
decayed timber, or searching for insects on the outside of trees— 
whether the “creepers” had intruded upon their domain or not. So 
far as I have been able to observe, the red-headed woodpecker is 
fee a Biot “versatile bird,” evincing a readiness of resource © 
anda y adaptation to his environment that are truly won- — 
erful: Shad. Aldrich, Webster city, Towa. 
Fisu NOTES FROM THE Paciric Coast.—Several fine carp were ; 
caught recently in Sonoma creek, one of which weighed nearly, 
eight pounds. They are said to bite like a trout and to make a 
good fight. Young catfish which were placed in Clear lake, 
1The ce gra of ey and e EEP RA are conducted by Dr. Eeer B = 
iw KU. S.A 
