THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN. 
77 
Milwaukee, having no doubt become bewildered and perished 
in the lake. Generally known as "wood-cock," or "log-cock" 
by deer hunters and people living in the timber regions. 
Except in the entirely unsettled parts of the state has become 
exceedingly wild and wary. 
3Ielanerpes erythrocephalus (Linn. J. RED-HEADED WOOD- 
PECKER. 
Very common summer resident and of late years to a 
considerable extent resident. Few r birds have so modified their 
habits in the past forty years as this species. Twenty-five 
years ago it was a rare thing to find one in winter; at the present 
time that is a common occurrence. Perhaps more interesting 
are the curious nesting sites selected in order to conform to the 
changed surroundings. Instead of being restricted more or 
less to rather open groves of heavy timber it is now found 
almost everywhere, in the largest cities and on the widest 
prairies. Among some of the odd nesting sites w r e have noted 
are the following: Between two flat rails on an old style rail 
fence; the hub of a broken wagon wheel, leaning against a 
fence; the box of a grain drill left standing in a field; a hole 
excavated in the hollow cylinder of an ordinary pump; com- 
mon in fence posts and telegraph poles. These were usually 
in prairie regions where there were few, if any, suitable trees. 
The red-head has to a marked degree the habit of the genus 
Melanerpes of hiding or hoarding food, acorns, corn, various 
nuts, etc., in cracks and crevices in the bark of trees, along 
fences, etc., but it does not always utilize these hoards. 
Melanerpes carolinus (Linn.). RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 
Not a common species anywhere in Wisconsin. Our 
observation has been that it inhabits heavy bottom land timber, 
maple, ash, etc., in preference to oak. Probably nearly resident 
wherever it occurs in the state, as it certainly is in Jefferson, 
Dane and Rock Counties, it being, if anything, more common 
in suitable localities here in winter than in summer. Dr. Hoy 
noted that it remained all winter at Racine. Grundtvig found 
it in winter in Outagamie County in 1883, and Willard took 
specimens in Brown County in February and April. Mr. J. N. 
Clark has procured but four specimens in sixteen years collect- 
ing in Dunn County — one male was seen in November. The 
eggs have been taken several times in Jefferson County, where 
the nesting sites were always in large dead trees overhanging 
water, and generally at a considerable height, and very hard to 
