Remarks on Some Western Vermont Birds. —The Red-headed 
Woodpecker (. Melanerfes erythrocefihalus , Sw.), is a strangely erratic 
species. Mr. C. S. Paine has taken but a single specimen in the eastern 
part of the State, and five years ago it was a very rare species about here 
(Brandon). Now they are nearly as abundant as the common Golden- 
wings. At Orwell, only ten miles to the west, they outnumber the 
Golden-wings, and appear to be on the increase. Dr. C. H. Merriam 
mentions (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. Ill, No. 3, p. 124) their remain- 
ing in N01 them New York during some of the severest winters known. 
I have never observed them in this vicinity later than the 2d of October, 
except in one instance (January 7, 1879), when I took a single specimen. 
Yt Rutland, sixteen miles south of Brandon, Mr. Jenness Richardson in- 
forms me that they are a resident species, being as abundant in winter 
as in summer. They were particularly abundant about here during 
August and September, 1879, being attracted, no doubt, by the grea” 
abundance of black cherries (. Primus serotina ), which they appear to 
relish greatly. I have frequently observed this species to employ the same 
nest for several successive seasons. 
JZ 
f 
Ball .N.O.O. , Jan, 1882, p. 03 
tyV /-{rtoyvoO asi* trf 
yJfcUTtu.irt. 0. y'Acy.j t 
Red-headed Woodpecker, ( Melanerpes 
erythrocephalus ). Rare. Summer visitor. I 
have noted it but twice, May 11th, and 
July 17, 1883. 
O.&O. IX. Nov. 1884 . p. 752 . 
Summer Bds.Mt. Mansfield, Vt. 
13. * Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Red-headed Woodpecker. 
Mrs. Straw says of this bird : “ rare; saw two in June, 1S96.” 
by' Arthur H. HoweiL 
Auk, XVIII, Oct., 1901, p\ 3‘ ,/. 
