The Singing of Birds. E.P.Bicknell. 
Colaptes auratus. Golden-winged Woodpecker. 
The well-known High-hole has, for a Woodpecker, a very varied 
repertoire. Its long rolling call may be taken as especially repre- 
sentative of song, and is a characteristic sound of the empty 
woodland of early spring. It is usually given from some high 
perch, and has a free, far-reaching quality, that gives it the effect 
of a signal thrown out over the barren country, as if to arouse 
sleeping nature. This call continues irregularly through the 
summer, but then loses much of its prominence amid the multi- 
tude of bird voices. It is not infrequent in September, but later 
than the middle of October I have not heard it. 
Another vocal acquirement of the Higli-hole is a sound much 
like that caused by the whetting of a scythe. These notes I have 
recorded from April 8 to September 5 ; but there seems to be no 
seasonal regularity about their utterance. The species has also 
some singular, conversational-like tones, and other notes, which 
are usually uttered when the birds are in company, and are 
sometimes attended with a great show of bowing and obsequious 
conduct. 
It is hardly necessary to allude to the familiar call-cry of the 
species, which may well have conferred the name Clape which 
the bird bears in certain sections. 
In the breeding season the High-hole seems to be quieter than 
either before or after, perhaps from considerations of caution. 
Auk, 2, JUly, 1885. p. Z - Z 6 O , 
