526 



:N0RTH AMEKICA^' JilRDS. 



responds also in tlie absence of tliat In-illiant polish so common in most 

 Woodpeckers. 



SuBGESi- XENOPICUS, Baird. 



Xenopiciis, Baird, Birds X. Am. 185b, h'i. (Type, Leiicoiierpcs albolarvatus, Cass.) 

 Xeiwcrau/jus, Cab. k Hkix. Mus. Ht-iii. IV, 2, 1863, 74. (Same type.) 



This section of Picus is not appreciably difl'ereut in form from Picus 

 villostis, wliich may he taken as the American type of the genus Picus. The 

 plumage appeare softer, however, and the uniformly black body with white 

 head and white patch at base of primaries will readily distinguish it from 

 any allied gi'oup. 



Picus albolarvatus, Baird. S 



WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKEE. ~ 



Leuconerpcs albolarvatus, Cassin, Pr. A. K. Sc. V, Oct. 1S50, 106 (California). Bonap. 

 Con.sji. Zyg. At. Ital. 1854, 10. Mchiitcrpes albolarvatus, Cas.six, Jour. A. N. Sc. 

 2d scries, II, Jan. 1853, 257, pi. xxii. — Newbekky, Zoijl. Cal. and Oreg. Route, 

 9, Rep. P. R. R. VI, 1857. Ficus {Xcnojticns) albolarvatus, Baikd, Birds N. Am. 

 1858, 96. — CAS.SIX, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1863, 202. — Lord, Pr. R. Art. Ins. IV, 

 1864, 112 (Ft. Colville ; nesting). — Cooper & SrcKLEY, 160. — Elliot, Birds 

 N. Am. IX, plate. Picus albolarvatus, Sundevall, Consp. Pic. 29. — Cooper, Oi-n. 

 Cal. I, 1870, 382. Xcnocraugus albolarvatus. Cab. & Hein. Mus. Hein. IV, 2, 1863, 

 74. Xenopicus albolarvatus, Elliot, lUust. Birds Am. I, pi. x.xix. 



Sp. Char. Fourth and fifth quills equal and longost ; tip of fir.st equidistant between 



_ _ __ ^ _ _ sixth and .seventh. Entirely bhii.<li-black, 



exceptiuiij the head and neck, and the outer 

 f'dj^es of the primaries (except outermost), 

 and the concealed bases of all the quills, 

 which are white. Length, about 0.00; 

 wing, 5.25. Male with a narrow crescent 

 nf red on the occiput. 



Hab. Ca.scade Mountains of Oregon and 

 .southward into California. Sierra Xevada. 



H.VBiTS. This very plainly marked 

 Woodpecker, formerly considered very 

 Pieus aiboiarrtttus. r&XQ, is iiow kuown to be abundant in 



the mountains of Xorthern California and Xevada, as also in tlie mountain- 

 ranges of AVashington Territory and Oregon. Dr. Cooper found it quite 

 common near tlie summits of the Sierra Nevada, latitude 39°, in September, 

 1863, and jirocured three specimens. Three years previously he had met 

 with it at Fort Dalles, Columbia Iliver. He thinks that its chief range of 

 distribution will be found to be between those two points. He also found 

 it as far north as Fort Cohille, in the northern part of Washington Territory, 

 latitude 49°. He characterizes it as a rather silent bird. 



