508 NORTH AMKiUCAN BIRDS. 



difference from eastern specimens, and this is characteristic of a large area 

 of coLintry, it may he jjrnper to recognize the form by the name harrisi. 



The r. jarclini appeai-s to be nothing more than the most southern race 

 of this dark western foi'm of P. villosus, and shows the smallest, as well as 

 the darkest, extreme to whicli the species attains. In Southern ^Mexico 

 typical P. harrisi. and this form grade insensibly together. Tlie minimum 

 of size and maximum darkness of colors are reached in Costa Eica. 



Habits. This \ariety was first described liy Mr. Audubon from specimens 

 obtained by Mr. Towusend on tlie Columbia Itiver. Ko information was 

 obtained in regard to its habits, which, it may be presumed, do not vary very 

 essentially h-om those of the more familiar jmhcsccns and villosus. In regard 

 to its geographical distribution, it has been found in more or less abundance 

 from Nebraska to the Pacific, and from Mexico to British America. It is 

 known to occur in Texas on the Eio Grande, in New Jlexico, in Arizona, 

 Nebraska, California, Oregon, and Washington Territory. 



This indicates a very general distribution throughout Western North 

 America from the eastern slope of the Eocky Mountains to the Pacific, and 

 from New Mexico and Texas probably to the limits of the forests in the 

 northwest. It seems to take the place of the P. villosus in the far west. Dr. 

 Heermann, in his notes on the birds of California (Journal of Philadelphia 

 Academy, II, 270), says it is not a common bird, although it is occasionally 

 met with in that State. Dr. Gambel, however, states that it occupies, on the 

 western coast, the same place that the P. villosus does ou the Atlantic, but 

 seems to have a greater partiality for the pine woods. Dr. Woodhouse did 

 not meet with it in the expedition to tlie Zuni and Colorado. Dr. Newberry 

 speaks of it (U. S. P. E. E. Survey, YI, — Zoology, p. 89) as not uncommon 

 in the wooded districts of Northern California and Oregon. Dr. Kennerly, 

 in his report on the birds obtained liy Lieutenant Whipple's party, states 

 that Harris's Woodpecker was found along the Little Colorado Eiver in the 

 month of December, wherever the cottonwood trees grew (U. S. P. E. E. 

 Survey, X, Pt. VI, 21). It is not mentioned by Dr. Heermann in his Eeport 

 on tlie birds of Lieutenant Parke's explorations near the 32d parallel. Tlie 

 same writer, in his Eeport on the birds of Lieutenant Williamson's party, 

 speaks of tliis bird as having been occasionally obser\ed during the survey, 

 but as a somewhat rare species, though procured in Northern California and 

 at Tejon Pass. Dr. Suckley speaks of it as quite abundant at F(jrt Dalles, 

 where he found it among the true pines, and at Fort Steilacoom, among the 

 firs (D. dovglasi), and as a winter resident in both localities (Natural His- 

 tory of Washington Territory, Zoology, p. 159). Dr. Cooper states that 

 Harris's Woodpecker is the most abundant species in Washington Territory, 

 being found on both sides of the Cascade ^Mountains, frequenting the lower 

 parts of the great coniferous trees. He found it a constant resident in May, 

 burrowing out a nest in a dead tree, sometimes only four feet from the 

 ground. He describes its cries and habits as so exactl}- like those of the 



