MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 
1137 
No. XXm.— WOODPECKER OCCUPYING NESTING BOX. 
Early in the spring this year I prepared a number of nesting boxes, in hopes 
of attracting birds, especially tits or nuthatches, and of inducing them to breed 
in my compound in Pachmarhi. The boxes were constructed as follows : 
DiagtiQins (b iSastrdk wethod of cons trued on of 
boY.es. 
FRorrr elevation. 
SIDE ELEVATION 
SECTION. 
Cylindrical sections of a yoimg tree, about 9 inches in diameter with the bark 
on and about 15 inches in length were prepared with a cross cut saw. Each such 
cyhnder was then cut across again, diagonally, into two unequal halves as shown 
in the diagram, the smaller half to constitute the hd of the nesting box. 
Both halves were then hollowed out with a stout auger and goudge, giving a 
cylindrical hollow 5 inches or so in diameter and 10 or 11 inches long, a thickness 
of 2 inches being left at top and bottom of the cavity. 
A circular hole IJ inches in diameter was then bored through the longer side 
of the lid section, communicating with the central hollow. 
Two stout headless nails were then driven into the margin of the lower half of 
the cyhnder on opposite sides of the hoUow and in a vertical position protruding 
about an inch above the level of the surface of the wood, and two corresponding 
holes were bored with a gimlet in the rim, at the base of the lid portion. The hd 
could now be firmly fitted into the basal portion of the cyhnder and could be easily 
removed and replaced again with no danger of its falling off. 
The nesting boxes were then hung up against the trunks of trees about 15 ft. 
from the ground, with entrance hole facing outwards. This was done early in 
February. Towards the end of February a pair of Golden Backed Woodpeckers 
{Brachypternus aurantius) became interested in one of the boxes; but the entrance 
hole having been made smaU (to exclude mynahs) they set to work to enlarge it. 
EventuaUy they enlarged the hole to 2j inches diameter and finding the cavity 
inside quite suitable for nesting purposes they adopted it without further excava- 
tion. 
On March 9th the nest contained 3 fresh eggs, pure white of course but pink 
from translucence. Incubation commenced the same day. 
From this date onwards I examined the nest daily and the birds gradually 
became accustomed to my visits. They always left the nesting box, however, 
on my commencing to cUmb the tree. The following notes are from my diary. 
March 19th Eggs not yet chipped. 
„ 20th All three eggs hatched. The young are quite naked. The upper 
mandibles are tipped with a conspicuous white shining scale. 
