MAMMALIA. 
I 28 
But this is the year when the nut crop is a failure. Therefore, as 
the fall advances and they find that there is a scarcity of provision 
for the winter, many of them migrate — we know not where. Then 
come the October “ Squirrel hunts ” — a disgrace to the State as well 
as to the thoughtless men and boys who participate in them — and 
the number left to winter is deplorably small. 
As the abundance of the Gray Squirrel in winter is governed by 
the supply of beechnuts, so is the presence, at this season, of its 
assailant, the recbheaded woodpecker ( Melanerpes erythrocephaliLS ), 
determined by the same cause. I have elsewhere called attention to 
this fact, remarking that “ with us a good Squirrel year is synonymous 
with a good year for Melanerpes , and vice versa.” * Gray Squirrels, 
recbheaded woodpeckers, and beechnuts were numerous during the 
winters of 1871-72, 1873-74, 1875-76, 1877-78, 1879-80, 1881-82, 
1883-84, while during the alternate years the Squirrels and nuts 
were scarce, and the woodpeckers altogether absent. 
Several years ago I published the following account of the way 
that these handsome birds sometimes harass the Squirrels : “ In mid- 
winter (January, 1876) my attention was called, by the noise they 
made, to a pair of red-headed woodpeckers who were diving at some- 
thing on one of the highest limbs of a large elm. A near approach 
showed the object of their malice to be a handsome Black Squirrel 
who had been unfortunate enough to excite their ire by climbing a 
tree in broad daylight. The Squirrel at first evaded their attacks 
from above by clinging to the under surface of the limb, and dodged 
their lateral shoots by a quick side shift, but this was temporary. 
The woodpeckers, realizing that they were not tormenting the Squir- 
rel to their full satisfaction, alighted for a brief council, during 
which the Squirrel took occasion to commence a hasty retreat. But 
the birds were at him in an instant, this time changing their tactics ; 
both dove together, the one following closely behind the other, so 
that as the Squirrel dodged the first he was sure to be struck by the 
* Forest and Stream, Vol. XVII, No. iS, Dec. i, 1881, p. 347. 
