NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 221 



oak districts of New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado, etc., where 

 the nests are burrowed, preferredly in dead trees, at all heights from 

 the ground. The eggs are four to six in number, and, like all those of 

 the Woodpeckers, are white and glossy. Mr. Norris has a set of five 

 eggs of this species in his collection taken near Yuma, Arizona, April 

 27, 1882. They measure, i.oox.Si, i.oix.Si, ,95x .81, . 99x^4, .99X.82. 



409. Melanerpes carolinus (LINN.) [372.] 



Red-bellied "Woodpecker. 



Hab. Eastern United States, west to the Rocky Mountains, south to Florida and Central Texas. 



This Woodpecker is regarded by some as the most beautiful of the 

 smaller species of its tribe, and is known to many as the "Zebra Bird," 

 from the back and wings being closely banded with black and white ; 

 the whole crown and nape are scarlet in the male, partly so in the 

 female. Under parts grayish, mixed with yellowish-white, reddening 

 on the belly. A bird generally of retired habits, seeking the deepest 

 and most unfrequented forests to breed. When engaged in hammering 

 for insects it frequently emits a short, singular note, which Wilson likens 

 to the bark of a small dog. The note is repeated twice, and resembles 

 the hoarse utterance of the syllables chow, chow. 



Prof. D. E. Lantz states that this species in the vicinity of Man- 

 hattan, Kansas, exhibits the same familiarity as shown by the Flicker, 

 the Red-headed and Downy Woodpeckers. About a dozen nests were 

 observed, the excavations ranging usually less than twenty feet from 

 the ground. One nest in a burrow of a large dead limb of an elm tree 

 was found May 12, and contained five eggs. The earliest date for a full 

 set was May 10. The birds were very much attached to their nests, 

 so much so that in several cases it was necessary to remove them with 

 the hand before the eggs could be secured. The eggs being taken, they 

 almost immediately begin excavating another nest cavity for the second 

 set, always in the vicinity of the first nest, often in the same tree. 



In Ohio this bird is a common resident. Breeds in May. Four to 

 six glossy -white eggs are laid, varying in length from .77 to i.oo by .67 

 to .79 in breadth. Six eggs taken in Franklin county, Ohio, measure, 

 i.oox.77, .98x.78, i.oox.78, . 99x^4, i.oox-76, i.oox.74. 



410. Melanerpes aurifrons (WAGL.) [373.] 



Golden-fronted Woodpecker. 



Hab. Southern Texas and Northeastern Mexico. 



Dr. James C. Merrill records this species as abundant on the Lower 

 Rio Grande in Texas, and Mr. George B. Sennett found it very common 

 at lyomita, and as bold and noisy as the Red-headed Woodpecker of the 

 North. Although breeding abundantly, the eggs were difficult to ob- 



