1977 Walter-D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (8 July) that neither j392 nor 393 made it this far. 1500. Returned here in order to open up the nest and see if I could find any remains of the 2 babies who have apparently- disappeared. Opening the nest and reaching in, a tell tale loud squeak heralded the fact that the hole had been taken over by a Woodrat (Dusky-footed), who I pulled out and de posited on the ground 9.1m below (from whence he hopped off into the nearby chaparral area). This beast had obviously been here awhile, as there was already 2-3 inches of droppings and branchlets, which I removed and examined for wood- pecker remains. My guess is that ① the rat's been here almost since the babies fledged (about 2½-3 weeks ago) ② the babies all successfully made it out of the nest (fledged), but that ③ the disappearance of the 2 may be due in part to the loss of their natal hole to the rat - not, necessarily, by the rat inflicting some mortal wound on an unwarily roosting baby but more plausibly, perhaps, by a baby discovering only too late that he could not roost in this hole and not knowing any- where else to go, henceforth roosting outside where for one reason or another he could not make it. This was interesting and may inspire me somewhat belatedly to check up on more nest holes following fledging itself. PURGE jj 392,393: Not seen after banding on 5 June 1977 940. 8RRR#236 along with several others in the near side of Hay-Blow. on Blonquist's side. 1000. 8PDBRW#309 +others slightly over toward the road, 1010. j Orgish/M #390 back in the forest behind the knoll. Eating acorns?