328 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



This species is singularly similar in form to the common Melanerpes erythro- 

 cephalus of North America, and is. of course, strictly congeneric. 



60. Melanerpes formicivorus, (Swainson.) 



In my volume, published some years since, " Birds of California, Texas, 

 &c," I expressed some suspicion of the identity of this species and M. flavigula, 

 Malherbe. My opinion still is that the latter is the young or a seasonal 

 plumage of the former, but as I can only express an opinion, without having 

 the means of satisfactory conclusion, I shall give them as distinct in my cat- 

 alogue of the Picidoe in the Academy Museum; 



With about twenty specimens before me from various localities, I cannot 

 separate clearly, according to characters yet given, the two species or sup- 

 posed species here mentioned; a few specimens from California and Oregon 

 being, however, clearly M. formicivorus, and two specimens of unknown local- 

 ity, but with the heads above black, without scarlet, being clearly females of 

 M. flavigula, as denned by M. Malherbe. One of them has a few red feathers 

 on the breast and the other has a fairly marked black transverse band on the 

 same part, but much narrower than in specimens of 31. formicivorus from Cali- 

 fornia. The difficulty is with male specimens having the top of the head 

 scarlet, exactly as in the male M. formicivorus, but otherwise much resembling 

 the two female specimens alluded to, and also M. Malherbe's plate of M. 

 flavigula (pi. 99, fig. 5, 6). Of these there are several in the Acad. Mus. without 

 indication of locality. They are apparently in adult plumage, and rather 

 smaller than California specimens. Although, as I have said above, I suspect 

 that 31. flavigula is identical with M. formicivorus, yet I think it possible that a 

 species might be established on the smaller specimens alluded to, much like 

 31. formicivorus, but smaller, with the pectoral transverse band narrower, and 

 different in some other minor particulars. I regard it as possible also that 

 these smaller male specimens are really adult males of 31. flavigula, and that 

 in adult plumage both male and female of that species are more like M. for- 

 micivorus than is stated at present, though smaller and possibly distinct 

 specifically. 



31. formicivorus, (J 1 young, (in Mr. Bell's collection from California, now in 

 Acad. Mus.) Entire upper parts black, with a greenish lustre, except the 

 rump, which is white. Head above black with a few scarlet feathers, front 

 and throat black, a wide subfroutal band and large space on the neck before 

 pale yellow. Breast without black band, but with numerous oblong and 

 irregular white spots on a ground of brownish black, abdomen white, with 

 longitudinal stripes of brownish black. Quills brownish black, several of the 

 primaries having large spots of white on their inner webs; tail brownish 

 black, all the shorter feathers tipped with white. Bill light brownish, the 

 under mandible almost entirely yellowish white. 



Specimens from Lower California, in Mr. Xantus' collection, have the yellow- 

 ish white frontal band narrower than in those from other localities. 



61. Melanerpes rubrifrons, (Spix.) 



Young tf. Like the adult, but with the throat having some white feathers 

 with small black spots ; abdomen and under tail coverts dull white with small, 

 obscure, somewhat saggitate spots of brownish black, and a narrow medial 

 portion yellowish scarlet. Entire upper parts brownish black, the shortest 

 quills with conspicuous white spots on their inner webs. Quills brownish 

 black, narrowly edged with white on their outer webs. Tail black, the two 

 outer feathers narrowly tipped with white. Head above with a few yellowish 

 scarlet feathers. 



(To be continued.) 



[Nov. 



