Mar., 1922 ROOSTING HOLES OF THE RED-SHAFTED FLICKER 55 
rough furniture, namely a bed supported by a box at each corner, a small 
stove, a table and a chair, and a few kitchen utensils. That the bird would be 
in search of a nesting site in such a situation is quite out of the question. Any 
support on which the bird might settle himself would be entirely dissimilar tc 
the secure receptacle afforded by the usual cavity excavated by this species in 
a dead hmb for the purpose of laying its eggs. Furthermore, the holes are 
drilled after the breeding season, in the fall or early winter months. At the 
present writing a fresh hole is nearly completed in this building. Though it is 
true our California winters in the Sonoran zones are not severe, collaris has no 
doubt discovered that it is much more comfortable to be indoors, especially 
on frosty and rainy nights. Any evening at this season a passer-by may fright- 
en several flickers from the holes in the pest house. 
At the approach of the breeding 
season there is a sudden exodus of flick- 
ers from Benicia and the immediate vi- 
-einity. This is no. doubt due to the 
seareity of suitable timber here for 
their nesting holes. During this season 
they are usually entirely absent, though 
in Contra Costa County on the oppo- 
site side of the Carquinez Straits, as 
well as in other sections of the San 
Francisco Bay region, one may find 
- them breeding quite commonly. Ab- 
sence of the flicker from our imme- 
diate locality during the breeding sea- 
son is cited as further evidence that 
the holes made in buildings are not for 
the purpose of housing the eggs and 
young. 
The dimensions of each of the lar- 
eer holes in the ‘‘pest house’’ at their 
greatest diameters, as well as other in- 
teresting data in connection with the 
excavations outlined in the accompany- 
ing sketch (see fig. 27), are as follows. 
a. 41% inches by 4 inches. This ex- 
cavation was made between the top 
board of the window trimming and cor- 
| nice, which latter consists of a plain 
one by ten inch board encircling the building directly under the projecting 
roof. In the interior, the top of the window casing offers an immediate roosi- 
ing place for the bird. This projection is four inches wide and three feet long. 
It is littered with droppings as is also the floor directly below. 
b. Four inches by four and one-half inches. This is six inches to the 
right of a and opens up onto the same ledge. A square piece of board has 
been nailed from the inside in order to cover up this hole, which may account 
for the two excavations so close together. 
c. Three inches by two and three-quarters inches. Opening made within 
Fig. 26. HoLEeES DUG BY RED-SHAFTED FLICK- 
ERS TO OBTAIN SLEEPING QUARTERS. 
