History of 
Flicker* s 
Nest 
Four of the young had left the nest when I next 
visited it at 11 A. M, July 10th. The fifth bird was still 
in the nest at 5 P. M. of the 10th hut he had left it at 
3 P. M. neat day (llth) and was sitting on one of the upper 
branches of the tree, calling pe-nk. This cry was regularly 
answered from the orchard behind and from at least two 
places across the river. Evidently the young ones had 
already scattered somewhat. Their cries were feebler than 
those of an old bird but otherwise similar. 
The nest was left in a terribly foul state, the 
bottom being a disgusting mass of muddy excrement alive 
with wriggling worms. I do not think that the Flicker ever 
removes the excrement of its young. These young, however, 
managed to keep very clean and all, so far as I could dis¬ 
cover, were perfectly free from vermin. 
iJThe following are my condensed notes on the visits 
of the old bird to the young: 
July 6. 
3.13 
P. 
M. 
Male parent c 
down 
5 times 
3.32. 
ii 
ii 
Male 
arrives, 
of these cont 
3.55 
ii 
it 
Male 
arrives, 
still hidden. 
4.20 
ii 
ii 
Male 
arrives, 
4.40 
ii 
n 
ii 
returns 
5.04 
ii 
ii 
ii 
ii 
5.21 
ii 
ii 
it 
ii 
6.00 
it 
ti 
ii 
ii 
and 
leaves. 
I! 
It 
1 
II II 
II It 
", takes alarm 
