Colaptes aur'atusV-The instance of the nesting of the Flicker (C. auratus ) 
within a building, as recorded in the Monograph of the Flicker (Wilson 
Bulletin, No. 31), reminds me of a somewhat -similar case which came to 
my notice in June, 1897. A barn in Lynnfield, unoccupied and seldom 
visited, was frequented by Flickers, several holes being made by them in the 
sides of the building. All the holes that I saw were made where a seam 
was formed by two boards. A pair of the Flickers nested in the barn 
laying their eggs on some hay. I did not myself see the eggs in position 
but the facts in the case were later furnished me by Mr. J. W. Ross, the 
owner of the property. 
A pile of hay some five or six feet high occupied one corner of the barn. 
The Flicker laid her eight eggs on this hay pile, making a slight depres- 
sion. The eggs were laid close to the side of the barn and about one foot 
below the hole made therein by the birds. 
Mr. Ross visited his barn at infrequent intervals and thinks that this will 
explain why the Flickers nested therein. On the occasion of one visit in 
May the bird flew from her eggs on the hay and made her escape through 
one of the holes. Two of the eight eggs were taken by boys, but the 
others hatched and Mr. Ross believes that the young were safely reared. 
This instance of the- Flicker nesting within a building differs from tha i 
recorded in the ‘Wilson Bulletin ’ in that the Massachusetts bird utilized 
hay for a nesting-place while in the other case the eggs were laid on 
boarding. — J. A. Farley, Malden, Mass. 
Auk, XVIII, Oct., 1901, 
