PICID.'E — THE WOODPECKERS. 523 



Dr. Cooper state.s that this Woodpecker is quite abundant towards the 

 coast of California, and among the foothills west of the Sierra Xevada. It 

 frequents the oaks and tlie smaller trees almost exclusively, avoiding the 

 coniferous forests. It is very industrious, and not easily Inghteiied, when 

 engaged in hammering on the bark of trees allowing a very near approacli. 

 At other times, when pursued, it becomes more wary and suspicious. April 

 20, 1862, Dr. Cooper discovered a nest of this bird near San Diego. It was 

 in a rotten stump, and was only about four feet from the ground. He cap- 

 lured the female on her nest, which contained five eggs of a pure pearly 

 whiteness. 



These birds are said to remain throughout the year in the valleys, and to 

 migrate very little, if at all. Dr. Cooper has not observed it west of the 

 Coast Eange, excejit near Santa Barbara, nor has he seen any around gardens 

 or orcliards. Xone have been observed nortli or east of the State. East of 

 the mountains it is replaced by the scalaris. 



Mr. Xantus mentions finding a nest containing two eggs in a hole in the 

 Cereus gigantetis, about fifteen feet from the ground. The excavation made 

 by the bird was about a foot and a half deep and six inches wide. 



Tliis AVoodpecker ilr. liidgway saw only in the Sacramento Valley, where, 

 in June, it appeared to be a common species among the oaks of the plains. 

 He did not learn anything of its habits, but describes its notes as very 

 peculiar, tlie usual one being a prolonged querulous rattling call, unlike 

 that of any other bii'd known to him. 



Subgenus PHRENOPICUS, Bonap. 



Fhrcnopicus, BoxAP. Consp. Vol. Zygod. Atcneo Ital. 1854. (Tj-pe, Picus horcalis, Vieill. I 

 Phrcnopipo, Cab. & Hein. Mus. Hein. 1863, 70. Same type. 



This subgenus is closely related in external form to the preceding, differ- 

 ing in rather longer and more pointed wings and tail, the latter especially, 

 and a very small, short bill. The first quill (excluding the spurious one) is 

 consideral:>ly longer than the sixth, not shorter. The tail-feathers are much 

 attenuated at end. The most marked differences in coloi-ation of the type 

 species, F. boivalis, consists in the absence of the post-ocular black patch, 

 leaving the whole amicular region white, and in the restriction of the red 

 to a very narrow line on each side, usually concealed. 



Some authors place Picus strtrl/andi of Mexico (PJircnojnjJO or A'ljlocopus 

 stricldandi, Cal). and Hein.) in this section, to which it may indeed belong as 

 far as the wing is concei'ued. but the marldugs are entirely different. 



