THE NORTHWESTERN FLICKER. 449 



hollow, and are ready to set up a clamor upon the appearance of food. This 

 noise has been compared to the hissing of a nest of snakes, but as the fledg- 

 lings grow it becomes an uproar equal to the best efforts of a telephone pole 

 on a frostv morning. 



The young are fed entirely by regurgitation, not an attractive process, 

 but one admirably suited to the necessities of long foraging expeditions and 

 \-arying fare. ^Vhen able to leave the nest the fledglings usually clamber 

 about the parental roof-tree for a day or two before taking flight. Their 

 first efforts at obtaining food for themselves are usually made upon the 

 ground, where ants are abundant. These with grasshoppers and other ground- 

 haunting insects make up a large percentage of food, both of the voung and 

 adults. It will appear from this that the Red-shafted Flicker is not onlv harm- 

 less but decidedly beneficial — save in the matter of hostility to school boards, 

 above mentioned. 



No. 179. 



NORTHWESTERN FLICKER. 



A. O. U. No. 413 a. Colaptes mexicaniis saturation Ridgwav. 



Description. — Like C. in. colhiris but darker ; ground color of upperparts 

 burnt umljer with a purplish tinge ; ground color of underparts vinaceous buff 

 to color of back ; sides of head and throat deep smoke-gray ; pileum cinnamo- 

 nieous. Specimens in the Provincial Museum at Victoria indicate hybridization 

 between this form and C. auratits lutcus. Of twenty-seven males from Van- 

 couver Island nine possess in whole or in part the scarlet nuchal patch character- 

 istic of anratus. Length up to 14.00 (355.6) ; av. of five Glacier specimens : wing 

 6.55 (166.4); tail 5.13 (130.3); bill 1.55 (39.4). 



Recognition Marks. — As in preceding; darker. 



Nesting. — .Vr.s-^- much as in preceding, but usuall}- higher up. Eggs: usually 

 6, somewhat less glossy than those of C. in. collaris. 



General Range. — Northwest coast from northern California to Sitka, 

 hybridizing with C. a. lutcifs northerly. 



Range in Washington. — Common resident west of Cascades, breeding from 

 tide-water to timber-line, migrating irregularly to East-side in winter; probably 

 some substitution of northern birds for local summer residents on Puget Sound 

 in winter. 



Authorities. — ? Picits nuwicainis, Auduljon. C)rn. Biog. V., 183c;, 174, pi. 416. 

 Colaptes mexicaniis Swains, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX., 1858, pp. 120, 121. 

 C&S. Rh. Kb. Ra. Kk. B. E. 



Specimens.— U. of W. P. Prov. B. BN. E. 



