Life History of the Golden-Naped Woodpecker

LINCOLN'S SPARROW, Melospiza lincolnii lincolnii.--Lessseems to be written about this than about any other Labrador sparrow even though it be one of the most common in transition lands between deep forest and barren tundra.At Cartwright any thicket held at least one pair of these birds which scolded all intruders with a metallic chink.A nest containing three newly hatched young was discovered on the ground at the base of a small, dead spruce, well hidden by exposed rootlets and deciduous growth, July 5, 1946.The parent allowed me to approach within two feet before slipping off the nest and running back into denser growth.Subsequent visits proved that no matter how frightened, the bird never flew away directly, but ran along the partially covered tunnel for several feet before taking wing.It used the same route when bringing food to the young.The fledglings left the nest in a flightless condition on the twelfth day after discovery.