1 
V 
Nesting of the Banded Three-toed Woodpecker ( Picoides ameri- 
canus) in Northern New York. — Since the eggs of this species have 
never been described, and do not exist, to my knowledge, in the cabinet 
of any of our ornithologists, it is with no ordinary degree of pleasure that 
I am enabled to make the following extract from my journal. 
“June 4, 1878. — Shortly after crossing Moose Biver this morning, en 
route for the Fulton chain of lakes, Mr. C. L. Bagg and I were so fortunate 
as to secure a set of the eggs, with both parent birds, of Picoides ameri- 
canus (old hirsutus). We had just crossed the boundary line between 
Lewis and Herkimer Counties, when Mr. Bagg called my attention to a 
‘ fresh hole,’ about eight feet from the ground, in a spruce-tree near 
by. On approaching the tree a yellow crown appeared in the hole, show- 
ing us that the nest belonged to one of the Three-toed Woodpeckers, and 
that the male bird was ‘at home.’ To prevent his escape I jumped 
toward the tree and introduced three fingers, which were immediately 
punctured in a manner so distasteful to their proprietor as to necessitate 
an immediate withdra wal and exchange for the muzzle of my friend’s gun. 
A handkerchief was next crowded into the hole, but was instantly riddled 
and driven out by a few blows from his terrible bill. It was then held 
loosely over the hole, and as the bird emerged I secured and killed him. 
Through the kindness of a friend my pocket contained one of those 
happy combinations of knives, saws, and button-hooks, — a sort of tool- 
chest in miniature, — which one sometimes sees in the shop windows, and 
is apt to regard with awe rather than admiration, but which constitutes, 
nevertheless, one of the most useful articles in a naturalist’s outfit. With 
this instrument we were enabled to saw a block from the face of the nest, 
and to secure, uninjured, the four nearly fresh eggs which it contained. 
While wrapping up the eggs the female bird returned, and as she alighted 
on the side of the tree was killed by Mr. Bagg. The orifice of the hole 
was about eight feet high and an inch and a half in diameter, and the 
cavity was about ten inches deep.” 
The eggs are cream- white, and of a texture like those of other Wood- 
peckers. They are strongly ovate in outline (the largest diameter being 
near the large end), and measure respectively 23.8 X 17.2 mm., 23.6 X 
17.8 mm., 23.8 X 17.9 mm., and 23 X 17.8 mm. 
So far as I am aware this rare Woodpecker is only found along the 
eastern border of Lewis County, in the Adirondack region, where it is a 
resident species ; and even here it is much less common than its congener, 
the Black-backed Woodpecker. — C. Hart Merriam, Locust Grove, Lewis 
Go., N. Y. 
BullN.O.O. 3,Oot.,1878, p. £00 
