PILEATED WOODPECKER

In four summers spent at Longmire, this is the only one in which I have noted more than one speciman of the Pileated woodpecker in a season. This year they are fairly abundant and I see them on every trip, having noted five on as many different trails. The male only has been seen. No nests have been found, but the male bird stays about certain regions of the forest where the female is probably nesting. The nests are placed in holes excavated in dead trees and stubs. Several of these large squarish excavations were noted. The bird is typical of the deep woods. Those noted were all silent and but for their continuous movement and conspicuously pointed, brilliant, red-crested head, would not be noticed. The unusually late season probably accounts for their large numbers at this time.

HUMMING BIRD

The humming bird's nest described in the last issue has been watched with interest. The two minute birds in the bottom of tiny-nest two weeks ago have outgrown their home. They are now fully feathered and so large that their heads and tails project beyond the margin of the nest. They sit in the nest with heads erect and slender bills pointing upward. They are so large that they leave no place on the nest for the mother bird.

The mother bird has been absent at the time of my visits and further observations of her have have not been made. The throat markings of the young are streaked with dusky spots and stripes on a light background showing no red or green which is more characteristic of the Calliape hummingbird than the Rufous.

By Charles Landes, Ranger-Nat.