The Singing of Birds. B.P.BxoWl. 
Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Red-headed Woodpecker. 
This fine bird is usually uncommon about New York, and long 
periods may elapse when it appears to be altogether absent. But 
it is liable to come in flocks any autumn, when many may stay 
and spend the winter. 
The species was common from September, 1881 , until the 
middle of the following May. Their usual note — a guttural 
lattle, similar to the cry of the tree-toad ( Hyla versicolor ) — was 
kept up all through the winter. In April their vocabulary was 
augmented by a hoarse, hollow-sounding cry. Then the birds in 
small companies still occupied the same woods where they had 
passed the winter, but were more noisy and active, and would 
sometimes set up a confused screaming all together. The tree- 
toad rattle I have also heard in August. 
Auk, 2, July, 1885. p. If*/. 
A Musical Woodpecker. — My attention was first called to this tal- 
ented bird by the rapid vibrations of one of the four wires running into 
our office. Looking down the track from where the noise seemed to 
proceed I spied a Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus') 
on top of a pole not far away. Leaving the office I went down to the 
stock pens to watch proceedings. I did not have long to wait, for he 
began in a short time drumming vigorously against a protruding piece 
of wire. The piece of wire in question was about ten or twelve inches 
long with a loop in the center ; it stood straight up parallel with the 
pole and about six inches above it, and protruded from a joint or splice 
in the wire, left there by some careless lineman. 
The Woodpecker would drum against it for ten to fifteen seconds at a 
time, stopping now and then to listen to the humming of the wire, or fly 
out to catch a passing insect. He would stop and listen in evident enjoy- 
ment, then utter a call and proceed. He kept this up for over a month, 
when he disappeared and I have not seen him since. — Otto Holstein, 
Muir, Ky. Auk, XVI, Oct. , 1899, p • 35\J. 
