The Yellow Bellied Sapsucker in 
Bristol County. 
BY JOHN C. CAHOON, TAUNTON, MASS. 
In the December number of the O & O., 1887, 
Mr. A. C. Bent writes that he has noticed the 
omission from Mr. F. W. Andros’ list of birds 
of this (Bristol) county, of several species 
which occur tolerably regularly, and others 
which are considered very rare or accidental. 
He says: “The most noted of these specie is 
the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ( Siphyrapcus Va- 
nns'). This bird, by no means common, could 
hardly be overlooked by collectors of any ex- 
perience.” 
I consider myself a collector of some little 
experience, and have spent many days in the 
woods of this county in the autumn, and I 
have not taken or seen any of these wood- 
peckers. I think that I could distinguish this 
bird from any of the other woodpeckers, as I 
saw and collected quite a number in Florida in 
the winter of 1883-84. I have had many of the 
New England Woodpeckers brought to me to 
be stuffed and mounted, but none of the Yel- 
low-bellied have been among the number. 
If included in the list of the birds of this 
county, in my opinion it should be recorded as 
very rare. From Mr. Bent’s accounts, he has 
{ certainly been more fortunate than either Mr. 
| Andros or myself, and I should like to ask Mr. 
Bent if his three records of this bird for this 
fall, were of specimens taken by himself, or 
seen being without shot. 
O.&O^ yill. Aor . 1888 p .60 
Omissions From the List of the 
Birds of Bristol County, Mass. 
BY A. C. BENT, TAUNTON, MASS. 
In Mr. F. W. Andros’ list of birds of this 
county in the O. and O. for September, 1887, I 
noticed the omissions of several species which 
occur tolerably regularly, and others which are 
considered very rare or accidental. 
The most noted of these species is the Yellow - 
bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapcus varius ) . This 
bird, although by no means common, could 
hardly be overlooked by collectors of any expe- 
rience. 
As a summer resident it is very rare, although 
I have had eggs brought to me said to be of 
this species. It occurs in Bristol County as a 
fall migrant in rather sparing numbers. I have 
never seen it in the spring. It frequents the 
same localities as the Hairy Woodpecker, being 
more often seen in the woods than in open 
places. The birds are shy and rather difficult 
to shoot on account of their knack of keeping 
I out of sight ; they dodge around the trunks of 
trees so skillfully that it requires considerable 
patient waiting to shoot them. I have three 
records of this bird for this fall. 
0,&O.XI.Aualfi88.p. i$» 
The Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker in 
Bristol County. 
BY A. C. BENT. 
Mr. J. C. Cahoon in the April number of the 
O. &.O., refers to my records of the. Yellow-bel- 
lied Sapsucker ( Sphyrapicus varius ), with some 
doubt as to their genuineness. 
I I should like to say in reply that my records are 
j positive in every case. The first bird observed 
by me in Bristol County was shot last fall and 
is now in my cabinet ; there is no doubt that 
this specimen is Sphyrapicus varius, although 
not in full adult plumage. 
While shooting at Norton a few days after- 
wards, a Woodpecker flew past me and alighted 
on a willow tree a few feet ahead of me. I was 
so close to him that I easily identified him as a 
fine specimen of this species. While retreating 
to get a fair shot at him, he darted around the 
trunk of the tree and disappeared. 
The third record is equally good ; a bird of 
this species was shot by a boy living on the out- 
skirts of the city, and brought it to Mr. R. G. 
White to be stuffed. He will also vouch for 
the identity of this bird. 
I also have two other records for the past 
j year which I cannot guarantee as good from 
| personal experience, still the birds were seen by 
persons who ought to know them by sight. 
Perhaps I made it appear to Mr. Cahoon that 
the species was common. I do not consider it 
so, and think it was rather unusual to meet so 
many of them in one season. Still, there is no 
reason why this bird should not occur in Bris- 
tol County regularly, as it is common in the 
New England Fauna. 
I think it rather strange that Mr. Cahoon has 
never met with ft here, and he may be fortu- 
nate enough to take some during our next mi- 
gration. But they are shy birds and easily 
overlooked, and very hard to get a shot at 
when seen. 
[During four years experience in the taxider- 
mist business in Boston, I do not think that I 
have received over half a dozen specimens, 
nor do I remember a single instance of one in 
full plumage. — F. B. W.] 
