294 BIRDS OF WESTERN AND 



161. Picus scalaris var. graysoni Baird. 



" Proc. Bost. Soc. of N. H., xiY., p. 273. 

 " lucasanus Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. zu Bremen, 1870, p. 354. 

 Mazatlan, Grayson, Xantus ; Tres Marias, Grayson. 



" I found this species abundant in the Islands of the Tres Marias, where it is a constant resident. It there 

 bores its nest in the tall and soft flower stem of the maguey plant. It is also common upon the main-land in 

 this locality. It subsists entirely upon insects." 



Prof. Baird considers the bird from Mazatlan and the Tres Marias to be a variety of P. 

 scalaris, to which he has assigned the name given above ; it more resembles the typical 

 P. scalaris than it does P. lucasanus, to which Dr. Finsch refers it. P. lucasanus is also 

 a race of P. scalaris, but with longer wings, bUl, and tail. The characteristics of the dif- 

 ferent varieties of P. scalaris will be pointed out by Prof Baird in his new work on the 

 Birds of North America, soon to be published. 



162. Sjjhyrajncus varius (Linn.). 

 Plains of Colima, Xantus. 



163. 3felaner2:)es formicivorus (Sw.). 

 Tonila, Jalisco, Xantus. 



164. Centurus elegans (Sw.). 



" " Fin.sch, Abli. nat. Ver. zu Bremen, 1870, p. -3')6. 



Mazatlan, Grayson. 



" Common visitant; also in Guadalajara, Tepic and Sonora. 



" This handsome woodpecker is one of the most common species inhabiting the region of Mazatlan, and is 

 noted for boring its nest in the Giant Cactus ( Cereiis giganteus), which, with wonderful persever.ance and labor, 

 amid the innumerable sharp spines of this singular plant, it picks out a hole projecting downwards, sufficiently 

 ample for its nest. The inner wood of this cactus is very tough and fibrous, and it really seems astonishing 

 that the bird is at all able to penetrate to the depth at which it generally forms its nest. The entrance is 

 just sufficient to admit one at a time, but gradually widening as it descends to the depth of six or eight 

 inches, where the eggs are deposited on the bare wood. Both male and female work at the nest until finished. 

 They also feed upon the fi-uit of this plant, wliich, when ripe, is the most beautiful carmine red. 



" Tlie nest once made is used for some years after, if not too much distorted by the growth of the plant. 

 This woodpecker, however, does not confine itself exclusively to the cactus for making its nest ; the smooth 

 tnink of the palm is also a favorite; sometimes as many as two or three nests may be seen in the stem of one 

 palm, and frequently the tree is ultimately destroyed from this cause in a singular manner. The small seeds 

 of the Wild Fig {Ficus americanus) are deposited in the woodpecker's nest, either by bird or bat, which the 

 moisture of the rainy season causes to germinate, and the peculiarly rapid growth of this tree, soon after 

 germinating, sends to the ground a tendril, which takes root in the moist earth, and in a few years the slender 

 palm is entirely enveloped in the powerful embraces of this giant of the woods. I have often seen the singu- 

 lar vegetable phenomenon of the crown of the palm projecting from the body and above the wide spreading 

 branches of the wild fig, thus having the appearance of one trunk and two diffi;rent heads. 



" The eggs are generally three in number, and of a transparent white." 



165. Centurus %iro2Vjgialis Baird. 

 Mazatlan, Guadalajara, Tepic, Grayson. 



"To be met with at all seasons of the year in some localities, not abundant. It bores its nest in decayed 

 trees, and sometimes in the stem of the palm." 



