ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 
67 
and deserted holes of the Golden-winged (Colaptes auratus) and 
Pileated {Hylotomus pileatus) Woodpeckers. At length, in response 
to a couple of sharp blows, the beautiful crimson-fronted head of a 
male Sphyrapicus appeared in the mouth of its hole, and the bird, 
after eying us curiously for a moment, launched out into the air 
and alighted on a neighboring tree. A few moments’ consultation 
decided that the tree must be felled, as the hole was at least forty 
feet up, and the trunk so rotten that it was manifestly impossible 
to ascend with safety. All the Maine guides are adepts with the 
axe, and on this occasion but a short time elapsed before the already 
tottering trunk began to show signs of giving way. Both birds 
(for the female had appeared at the first alarm) repeatedly entered 
the hole, and clung against the now quivering trunk, uttering their 
peculiar snarling cry. A few more vigorous blows and the huge 
tree began to decline, then, gathering momentum, descended with 
fearful force, burying its full length for a moment beneath the sur- 
face and half filling the boat with water. So nicely had its fall 
been calculated that it came down in clear water exactly between 
two other trunks which stood within six feet of each other, and 
without touching either. To cut out the hole was now a matter 
of little difficulty, and to our delight we found the three eggs which 
it contained entirely uninjured. Subsequent experiments of a sim- 
ilar nature were, however, less successful. 
“ Continuing our search, we soon discovered another nest in a tall 
dead birch, the hole from which the bird emerged being at least 
fifty feet above the water. This tree was, after careful inspection, 
pronounced climbable, and the guide, with characteristic coolness, 
filling and lighting his short pipe, commenced to ‘swarm’ up, 
puffing out dense clouds of smoke as he ascended. Beaching the 
hole, he quickly and adroitly attached a rope to the trunk, and, 
tying a loop in the end to form a stirrup, stood in this and cut out 
the cavity with his axe. This nest contained six perfectly fresh 
eggs, all of which were brought down in safety. Proceeding in this 
way, five more nests were discovered, but only two sets of eggs 
secured, as three of the trees had to be felled, and in each instance 
with disastrous results.” 
All nests examined upon this occasion were of uniform gourd-like 
shape, with the sides very smoothly and evenly chiselled. They 
averaged about fourteen inches in depth by five in diameter at the 
widest point, while the diameter of the exterior hole varied from 
