564 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



the very base of tlie eastern slope ; and in the last-mentioned place was ob- 

 served on a few occasions among the tall aspens bordering the streams in 

 the lower portions of the canons. In its habits it is described as approach- 

 ing most closely to our common Eed-headed Woodpecker {M. erythroceplui- 

 lus), but possessing many very distincti\-e peculiarities. In the character 

 of its notes it c^uite closely approximates to our common Itedhead, but 

 they are weaker and of a more twittering character ; and in its lively play- 

 ful disposition it even exceeds it. It has a very peculiar and cliaracteristic 

 habit of ascending high into the air, and taking a strange, floating flight, 

 seemingly laborious, as if struggling against the wind, and then descending 

 in broad circles to the trees. 



The eggs are more spherical than are usually those of the Colaptes auratiis, 

 are of a beautiful crystalline whiteness, and measure 1.10 inches in length 

 and .92 of an inch in breadth. 



Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Swaixson. 



KED-HEADED WOODFECKEE. 



Picus erythrocephalus, Lixx. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 174. — Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sopt. II, 1807, 

 60, pi. cxii, cxiii. — Wilson, Am. Orn. I, 1810, 142, pi. i.t, fig. 1. — Wauleh, Syst. 

 Av. 1827, No. 14. — IB. Isis, 1829, 518 (young). — Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1832, 141 ; 

 V, 536, pi. xxvii. — Ib. Birds America, IV, 1842, 274, pi. ccLxxi. —Max. Cab. .1. VI, 

 1858, 419. MdanerjKs erylhroccplmlus, Sw. F. B. A. II, 1831, 316. — Box. List, 

 1838. — Ib. Consjiectus, 1850, 115. — Gambel, J. Ac. Nat. So. Ph. 2d ser. I, 1847, 

 55. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 113. —ScL. Cat. 1862, 340.— Samuels, 102.— 

 Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 402. — Allen, B. E. Fla. 307. Picus obscuriis, Gm. I, 

 1788, 429 (young). — Ral-lieaded Woodpecker, Pennant, Kalm, Latham. IVhite- 

 rumpecl Woodpecker, Latham. 



Sp. Char. Head and neck all round crimson-red, margined by a narrow crescent of 

 black on the upper part of the breast. Back, primary quills, and tail bluish-ljlack. Under 

 parts generally, a broad band acro.ss the middle of the wing, and the rump, white. The 

 female is not different. Length, about 9.75 ; wing, .5..50. Bill bluish-white, darker ter- 

 minally ; iris chestnut ; feet olive-gray. Young without any red, the head and neck being 

 grayish streaked with dusky ; breast with an ashy tinge, and streaked sparsely with 

 dusky ; secondaries with two or three bands of black ; dorsal region clouded with grayish. 



Hab. Eastern Province of United States to base of Rocky Mountains, sometimes strag- 

 gling westward to coast of California (Gambel). Salt Lake City, Utah (Ridgway). Other 

 localties : Nueces to Brazos, Texas (Dresser, Ibis, I8G.5, 469, breeds). 



Western specimens frequently have the abdomen strongly tinged with 

 salmon-red, or orange-red, and are generally more deeply colored than 

 eastern. 



Habits. TJie Eed-headetl Woodpecker is one of the most familiar birds 

 of this family, and ranges over a wide extent of territory. Excepting where 

 it has been exterminated by the persecutions of indiscriminate destroyers, it 

 is everywhere a very abundant species. Once common, it is now rarely met 



