332 HISTORY OF THE 



tree seems to be their favorite. As the cokl weather approaches, 

 they seek the valleys and work their way southward, wintering 

 among the cottonwoods and willows skirting the streams. I 

 have found them quite common in suitable localities that I have 

 visited within their range. 



Their nests are excavated chiefly in live trees, usually the 

 aspen, the center of the tree showing signs of decay. The 

 cavities are gourd shaped and quite roomy; and I have found 

 them ranging all the way from five to forty feet from the ground. 

 Eggs usually four or five; average dimensions, as given by Ridg- 

 way, .87x. 65. A set of four, collected near Fort Garland, 

 Colorado, measure: .84x. 66, .84x.69, .85x.68, .86x.69; pure 

 lustrous white, with a pinkish hue before blowing; vary in form 

 from almost subspherical to ovate. 



Genus CEOPHLCEUS Cabanis. 

 "Bill a little longer than the head; cousiderably depressed, or broader than 

 high at the base; shaped much as in Campephilus, except shorter, and without the 

 bristly feathers directed forwards at the base of the lower jaw. Gouys about 

 half the length of the commissure. Tarsus shorter than any toe, except the 

 inner posterior. Outer posterior toe shorter than the outer anterior, and a little 

 longer than the inuer anterior. Inner posterior very short, not half the outer 

 anterior, about half the inner anterior one. Tail long, graduated; the longer 

 feathers much incurved at the tip. Wing longer than the tail, reaching to the 

 middle of the exposed surface of tail; considerably graduated, though pointed; 

 the fourth and fifth quills longest. Color uniform black. Head with pointed 

 occipital crest. A stripe from the nasal tufts beneath the eye and down side 

 of neck, throat, lining of wing, and basal portion of under surface of quills, 

 white; some species with the abdomen and sides barred black and brownish 

 white; other with a white scapular stripe in addition. Male with whole crown 

 and crest and maxillary patch red; female with only the crest red." 



Ceophloeus pileatus (Linn.). 



PILEATED WOODPECKER. 

 PLATE XXII. 



Not an uncommon resident along the streams, in heavily 

 wooded bottom lands. Begin laying about the first of April. 



B. 90. E. 371. C. 432. G. 170, 156. U. 405. 



Habitat. Said by other writers to be found in the heavily 

 wooded districts of North America at large. I have never met 



