BIRDS OF VERMONT. 
223 
FAMILY ALCEDINIDiE.— Kingfishers. 
Belted Kingfisher. Ceryle alcyon^ Boie. 
Lives on fish and vomits the bones in a hole in a bank, and 
calls it its nest. It is putrid and full of vermin, and yet it an- 
swers their purpose, and in such a place their .young are reared. 
FAMILY CUCULID^.— Cuckoos. 
Black-billed Cuckoo. Coccygus Erythrophtlialmus^ Bd. 
Most numerous of the two species that inhabit the state, yet 
never very abundant. They sometimes drop their eggs in other 
birds' nests, yet often rear their own brood. They lay eggs only 
at intervals of several days, so the first hatched birds help hatch 
others. 
Yellow-billbd Cuckoo. Coccygus A^nericanus, Bd. 
Traits and habits as last described. 
FAMILY PICID^.— Woodpeckers. 
Pileated Woodpecker. Hylotomus pileatus^ Bd. 
Wild, solitary bird, yet sought by the amateur naturalist, as his 
head is so red and his body so large that he is always con- 
spicuous. 
Hairy Woodpecker. Picus villosits. 
Found everwhere but not abundant in the State. Nest in very 
secluded places. 
Downy Woodpecker. Picus pub escens. 
The ring of holes drilled around an apple or a pear tree, when 
in perfect health, is the work of this little mischief. Some say 
he drills these for sap, and others, for the insects that collect 
about them, but it looks Uke pure mischief. Thej^, however, 
chisel a hole for their nest in some dead tree with great labor. 
Black-backed three-toed Woodpecker. Picoicles arclicus^ Gr. 
Almost the only three-toed bird. A permanent resident. 
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker. Sphyro2nciis variiis^ Bd. 
This is a very different kind of woodpecker, as they take much 
of their food on the wing instead of out of holes in trees. Its 
tongue is not the spear of other varieties, and not capable of 
such extension. Chiefly observed in spring and fall. 
Red-headed Woodpecker. Melanerpes erythrocephalus^ Sw. 
The " red, white and blue" of this bird is too well known to 
need comment. 
Golden-winged Woodpecker ; Flicker. ColapUs <mratus, Sw. 
The most common of all the tribes, and has a half dozen, at 
least, local names not here given. 
