Sphyrapicus varius. 1871. Maine (Lake Umbagog). May 30- June 10. Abundant everywhere especially about the shores of the lake. They food almost exclusively on the birches. their notes are a harsh snarling cry, and a loud call quite unique. Their tapping roll on the resonant trunks of trees can be heard at a great distance in still wea- ther. " 10. Took a nest with three fresh eggs. The hole was small for the size of the bird, and entered horizontally for at least three inches before it began to descend and enlarge. 1873. Aug. 11. This bird is tame almost to stupidity, or perhaps like certain ground birds it depends for safety on its protective coloring. It will allow one to approach with- in a few feet and when fired at and missed, will often flatten itself against the bark and remain perfectly mo- tionless. " 25. It is apparently getting scarce for I have seen on- ly one during the past week. Sept. 7. Shot one on the shore of Richardson Lake. " 13. There are still a few about. " 22. Saw one to-day. 1874. Aug. 4. Saw several, the first this season. " 10. Shot a young male. 1876. May 26. A male shot to-day. It uttered a snarling cry somewhat like the mew of a catbird and a loud clour, clour, clour. " 29. Shot a female which had already laid several eggs. " 31. Two inhabited nests in high birch stubs at least fifty feet above the ground; could not examine them. " " Heard this species utter a new note. A peculiar cry analogous to the yaw-wick, yaw-wick of Colaptes but more run together and less emphatic. June 1. A female shot by Stone had a few red feathers in the throat patch; this bird had laid all her eggs.