THE LEWIS WOODPECKER. 441 



the western forest, I)nt t(.i w Imse autliiirship I lia\e nn clew unless it \n-o- 

 ceeds from this l:)ird. The note comes from well up in the trees, and is 

 repeated slowly, after little intervals, and with a sort of funereal solemnity. 

 If I \-enture to literate it, the letters are to lie tliought rather than said, — 

 or better still, thought while whistled in a low key (si) poolk{ng) - - - 

 (si)poolk(iig) - - (si)poolk(iig). \\'ho will "riddle me this mystery"? 



The Pileated \\'ood])ecker chisels out its nesting hole at an\- height in 

 dead timl:)er. whether of fir, ])ine. spruce, or other. It nests regularlv in this 

 State, but the taking of its eggs is something of a feat ; so, in default of much- 

 coveted "luck," we fall back on Bendire^ : "From three to five eggs are 

 usuallv laid to a set, but I haxe seen it stated that the Pileated Woodpecker 

 often laid six, and that a nest found near Farm\'ille, Virginia, contained eight. 

 An egg is deposited daily, and incu1)ation Ijegins occasionally before the set is 

 completed, and lasts about eighteen days, both sexes assisting in the duty, as 

 well as in caring for the young. Like all Woodpeckers the Pileated are very 

 devoted parents, and the young follow them for some weeks after leaving 

 the nest, until fully capable of caring for themselves. Only one brood is raised 

 in a season. The eggs of the Pileated Woodpecker are pure china-white in 

 color, mostly ovate in shai^e ; the shell is exceedingly fine-grained and \'ery 

 gloss\-, as if enameled." 



No. 176. 



LEWIS'S WOODPECKER. 



A. O. U. No. 408. Asyndesmus lewisi Riley. 



Synonym. — Bl.\ck Woodpiccker. 



Description. — Adults: .\bove shining black with a greenish bronzy luster; 

 "face." including extreme forehead, space about eye, cheeks, and chin, rich 

 crimson ; a collar around neck continuous with breast hoary ash ; this ashy mingled 

 intimately with carmine, or carmine-lake, on remaining underparts, save flanks, 

 thighs and crissum, which are black ; feathers of nape and underparts black and 

 compact at base but finely dissected on colored portion of tips, each barb length- 

 ened and bristly in character. Bill and feet black ; iris brown. Youiuj birds lack 

 the crimson mask and hoary collar; the underparts are gray mingled with dusky 

 below, with skirtings of red in increasing abundance according to age. Length of 

 adult: lo.oo-ii.oo (254-279.4); wing 6.75 (171. 5); tail 4.50 (114.3); h\\\ 1.20 



(30.5)- 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size; shining black above, hoary collar and 

 breast ; red mingled with hoary ash on underparts distinctive. 



a. Life Histories of N. A. Birds, Vol, II., 



