212 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Florida as early as January, and engaged in preparing a breeding place 

 in February. The nest, he states, is not unfrequently bored in a de- 

 cayed stump. In Georgia and other localities this bird excavates a 

 nesting cavity in tall pine trees, living or dead. 



The eggs are said to range from four to six in number, glossy- 

 white ; size .91 x .68. 



396. Dryobates scalaris (WAGL.) [363.] 



Texan Woodpecker. 



Hab. Southern border of the United States, from Texas to Arizona south into Mexico. 



This bird is called the Ladder-backed Woodpecker, from the black 

 and white cross-bars on the back. It averages larger than the Downy, 

 D. pubescens. Dr. Merrill found it a common resident in Southern 

 Texas. He states that in its habits it is so like the Downy Wood- 

 pecker that there is little to be said about it. He gives the average size 

 of eighteen eggs as .81 x .64. 



Mr. Norris has a set of four eggs taken in Comal county, Texas 

 May 30, 1885. The nest was in a cavity of a fence rail. The eggs are 

 white and very glossy ; sizes .82 x .62, .83 x . 60, .84 x .62, .80 x .60. 



The form D. s. lucasanus (Xantus), belongs to the southern poi 

 tion of I/ower California. 



397. Dryobates nuttallii (GAME.) [364.] 



Nuttall's Woodpecker. 



Hab. California. 



The habitat of Nuttall's Woodpecker is restricted to the limited 

 area of the State of California, where it seems to be confined chiefly to 

 the region west of the coast range and southward to the extreme south- 

 ern portion of the State. It closely resembles the Texan Woodpecker, 

 and may be easily recognized from the latter by the white or dull buff 

 nasal tufts and the markings of the tail feathers. The bird is of the 

 same size as the Downy Woodpecker of the Eastern States, and has 

 many of its characteristics, familiarly searching the orchards, stumps 

 of trees and fence rails for insects and their larvae. Mr. Walter E. 

 Bryant found a nest of this species on Mt. Diablo, California, May 29, 

 1880. It was in a cavity picked between the body and the bark of an 

 oak stump, fifteen feet from the ground. The opening was very diffi- 

 cult to find. The male bird was sitting, and flew from the stump as 

 Mr. Bryant approached, and he was obliged to wait for its return before 

 trie entrance could be located. The cavity was about twelve inches 

 deep and four inches inside diameter ; diameter of the entrance was 

 about one inch and a half. The nest contained four glistening, white 



