442 THE LEWIS WOODPECKER. 



Nesting. — Xcst: in hole excavated in dead tree, usually at considerable 

 height. Bfiijs: 5-9. white, slightly glossed. Av. size. 1.03 .x .80 (26.2x20.3). 

 Season: third week in Mav to first week in June; one brood. 



General Range. — Western United States from the Black Hills and the 

 Rocky Miiuntains to the Pacific, and from southern British Columbia to southern 

 Alberta, south to Arizona, and (in winter) western Texas. Casual in Kansas 

 (A. O. v.). 



Range in Washington. — Summer resident in timljered sections (Arid Tran- 

 sition arid lower Canadian life-zones) east of the Cascades; especially partial to 

 Cottonwood timber lining the larger streams ; locally distributed or colonizing 

 west of the mountains, chiefly in burns. 



Authorities. — [Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. ( 1814). Ed. ISiddle: Cmies, \'ol. 

 H., [). 187J. Mclanerpcs torqnatus. Bonap. Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX., 

 1858, p. \\(\. T. C&S. L-\ D'. Kb. Ra. D-'. Ss'. Ss-'. Kk. J. B. E. 



Specimens. — U. of W. P. Prov. C. E. 



NOT the least strange of the many new creatures discijxered ijy a famous 

 e.xpedition of a hundred _\ears ago was this curious black Woodjjecker, which 

 \\'ilson named lonjiiatiis (collared), but which soc.m became known ])\- the 

 name of the intrepid leader, Cajitain Meriwether Lewis. In habit and appear- 

 ance the bird combines Crow, Jay, Woodpecker, Flicker, and Flycatcher. It 

 is perha])s as flycatcher that we know him Ijest, as we see him sail out from 

 the stiiiimit of a cottonwood or towering pine-tree and make connection with 

 some object to us invisible. H the insects are flying freely, the bird mav 

 conclude to remain aloft for a few minutes, lluttering about in great watchful 

 circles, readv for inomentar}- dashes and adroit seizures. A dozen of his 

 fellows mav be similarly engaged in the same vicinity, for Lewis is ever a 

 sociable bird, cmd when he returns to his perch he will raise a curious raucous 

 twitter, a rasping, grating, obstructed sound, which is his best effort at either 

 conversation or song. 



In passing from tree to tree the Woodpecker presents a Crow-like apiiear- 

 ance, for it moves with a labored, direct flight, wdiich is quite different from 

 the bounding gait so characteristic of many of its real kinfolk. In alighting, 

 also, the bird is as likely to bring up on top of a limb, in respectable bird- 

 fashion, as to try clinging to the tree trunk. 



Lewis Woodpeckers are rather wary, and if one starts out to secure a 

 specimen, he is surprised to note how the birds manage to edge off while still 

 out of range, and to fly away across the tree-tops rather than trust them- 

 selves to the lower levels. It is well worth one's wdiile to examine a specimen, 

 because of the exceptional character of the bird's plumage. The hoary ash 

 of the collar contrasts strikingly with the glossy green of the upperparts, 

 wdiile the rich crimson, mingled with ashy, below, serves to emphasize the 

 extraordinary hair-like character of the feathers themselves. If it had been 



