56 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMI OP 



laterally to twice or more the diameter at the root, and converted into quite a 

 stiff bristle, nearly smooth or with slight indications in place of fibrillse. It is- 

 this portion of the feather that is colored," [Baird.] The feathers of the 

 nuchal collar also posses these peculiarities. The dorsal plumage is intensely 

 lustrous. The red about the face has a peculiar velvety aspect. 



I do not find any name already proposed for this genus, which seems emi- 

 nently worthy of separation from Melanerpes. I had long been of this opinion 

 from examination of skins alone ; and since studying the bird in the field, 

 have become quite convinced. My name has reference to the disconnection 

 of the fibres of the feather. 



45. AsYNDESMUS TORQUATUS (WilS.) 



Picas torquatus Wilson. Melanerpes (orquatas Bonap. et Auct. Asyndesmus 

 torquatus Coues. Picas montanus Ord. P. Lewisii Drapiez. 



Common : resident. 



In young birds there is hardly a trace of a nuchal collar, and the upper 

 parts, especially about the head, have very little lustre. The crimson fore- 

 head and lores are very illy defined ; nor are they trenchantly divided from 

 the hoary of the breast by a black area. The blood-red of the under parts 

 only shows in isolated patches, except perhaps on the abdomen, where it is- 

 more or less continuous ; the color being of various shades of gray on the 

 breast and sides. The feathers hardly acquire their peculiar character until 

 old enough to have their proper color. 



46. Colaptes mexicanus Swainson. 



Resident ; abundant: found in all situations, and in habits is quite a coun- 

 terpart of the eastern species it represents in Western North America. 



(47.) Colaptes chrysoides Malh. 



Gtopicus (Colaptes) chrysoides, Malherbe, Rev. et Mag. N. H. iv. 1852, 



553. Monog. Pieidce, ii. p. 262. 

 Colaptes chrysoides, Baird, B. N. A- 1858, p. 125. 



Colaptes Ayresii, Heermnnn, Parke's Exped. 32 parallel, in the P. R. 

 R. Surv. vol. x. pt. ii. p. 50. Not of Audubon. 

 This species has been shot at Fort Mojave by Dr. J. G. Cooper, in Feb. 1861, 

 when it was feeding on the larvae of insects among the Pbpulus moniliferus. 

 He found it very shy and wary as all the Colaptes seem to be. It doubtless 

 winters in the Colorado valley, though I do not think it leaves the valley to 

 the north and east, as I have never found it among the Whipple mountains. 



" Geopicus ehrysoides Malh." was given by Prof. Baird in 1858 as a syno- 

 inyin, with a query, of his C hyridus. At that time there was not sufficient 

 material available to decide the point ; but the impropriety of the reference 

 has since become evident.* The bird is now well known as a common species- 

 of Lower and Southern California, and of the Colorado valley, and has been 

 brought from the Sonora line. Very numerous examples are in the Smith- 

 sonian from Cape St. Lucas. 



" Colaptes Ayresii Aud." of Dr. Heermann's Report, as above cited, is un- 

 doubtedly the present species. But the true Ayresii of Audubon is a mixture 

 of auratus and mexicanus, more recently characterized by Prof. Baird as C. 

 hybridus. 



TROCHILIDJE. 



(48.) TrochiI/US alexandri Bo ure. and Muls. 



This species has been taken in the Colorado Desert so near the western 

 boundary of the Territory as to render it exceedingly probable it is a bird 

 of the Colorado River valley, as well as of the coast of Southern and Lower 

 California. But I am not aware that it has actually been taken in Arizona. 



* See <le.scriptions of ani remarks upau this species by S. F. Baird, in Pr. A. N. S. Ph. for Not- 

 ember. 1S59. 



[March, 



