290 MKL/NERPES ERYTHROCEPHALUS. 



MELANEKPES EEYXnilOCEPHALUS, (Linn.) Sw. 



Red-hcadod AVoodpecker. 



Picks enjfhroceplialus, Linn., Syst. Nat. i, 176(), 174 (Gates , i, 20 ; BRif<s., iv, 53, pi. 3, 

 Hg. 1 ; Planch. Enluni. 117).— ViEiLL.,Ois. Am. Sept. ii, 1807, (iO, pis. 11'2, 113.— 

 WiLS., Am. Oin. i, 1S08, 142, pi. 9, fig. 1.— Bp., Syu. 1828, 4.').— Wagi.., Lsis, 1829, 

 518.— NuTT., Mau. i, 1832, p.— Aui>., Oru. Biofr. i, 1832, 141, pi. 27; Svn. 1839, 

 184; B. Aiu. iv, 1842, 274, pi. 271.— Gm., B. L. I. 1844, 180.— Maxim., J. f. O. 

 1858, 419.— PuTN., Pr. Ess. Inst, i, 1856, 214 (Massaclnisetts, rare).— Thippk, 

 ibid, vi, 1871, 118 (Minnesota, abundant). — Sund., Coiisp. Av. Pic. 18GG, .50. 



Melaim-peti erythroccphahis, Sw., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 310 (Lake Hiuou). — Bp., List, 1838, 40; 

 Consp. i, 1850, 115. — Gamb., Journ. Phila. Acad. 1847, 55.— Woodh., Sitgr. Kep. 

 1853, 91.— Bd., B. N. a. 1858, 113.— Hayd., Rep. 1862, 1.56.— Veri?., Pr. Ess. In.st. 

 iii, 1862. 145 (Maine, rare). — Allen, ibid, iv, 1864, 53 (Massachusetts, rare). — 

 McIlwij., ibid. V, 1866, 83 (Canada West, common). — Coue.s, ibid, v, 1868, 203 

 (New England, rare).— Dkess., Ibis, 1865, 469 (Texas).— Coop., B. Cal. i, 1870, 

 402.— Stev., U. S. Geol. Snrv. Ter. 1870, 463 (Wyoming).— Snow, B. Ivans. 1873, 

 3.— Allex, Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 1872, 180 (Kansas and Colorado).— Hold., Pr. Best. 

 Soc. 1872, 207 (Wyoming).— Coues, Key, 1872, 196.— B. B. & R., N. A. B. ii, 

 1874, 564, pi. .54, fig. 4. 



Picus ohscurus, Gm., Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 429 (juvenile). 



Hab. — Temperate Eastern North America to the Eocky Mountains. Not authenti- 

 cated on the JPacitic Coast ? Now rare in New England. Breeds from Texas to Nova 

 Scotia. Utah {Ilidgwaij). Calilbrnia (Gmnbel). 



Lieutenant TVarren^s Ejcpediiion . — 462.'w;0, Nemaha River; 5230-31, Yellowstone River; 

 5529, Fort Lookout; 8808, Fremont, on Platte River. 



Later Expeditions. — 601548-54 Bitter Cottonwood and La Bont6 Creeks. 



From time to time we have had accounts of the supposed occurrence 

 of this species on the Pacific coast, and elsewhere west of the Ko(;ky 

 Mountains. Tlius, Richardson mt^itions a specimen said to have come 

 from the Columbia Eiver; Gambel gives it from the coast of California; 

 Cooper includes it in his work, but, as in many other cases, upon sup- 

 position of its occurrence in California, " as it extends to the Kocky 

 Mountains and perhaps over them." None of these records are satis- 

 factory, however; the most western ones upon which full reliance can- 

 be placed being" those from the headwaters of the Missouri and its trib- 

 utaries, and from Salt Lake City. Of these there is no question. Dr. 

 Hayden s])eaks of tb.e species as one of the most abundant birds along 

 the wooded bottoms ot the Missouri. Mr. Holden and Mr. Stevenson 

 found it in Wyoming, and Mr. Allen in Colorado, from the plains np 

 to about 11,000 feet. Mr. Trippe, also, found it common in Eergen's 

 Pass. 



Tlie Woodpeckers, as a rule, are n on -migratory birds, owing to their 

 hardy nature, and the character of their food, which can be obtained at 

 all times. Mostof our species are pretty thoroughly localized; such are 

 all tho.se of Southern portions, as the Ivory-bill and Ked-cockaded in the 

 East, the Melaucrpes formicivvru^ in the West, tJtc, as well as the robust 

 species of Picus proi)er, Piroidc.s, and Sphjjrapicus. But even some of 

 these journey with the season, and others, notably the Ked-bellied, the 

 Oolden-winged, and the present species, are migrants in most regions — 

 l)erha|)s irregulaily so, indeed, but still not entirely stationary. Taking 

 an intermediate locality, as the District of Columbia, for instance, we 

 find the Eed-bellied and the Flicker there the whole year; but both of 

 these are partially migratory, the former being most abundant in sum- 

 mer, while the latter is so during the spring and fall, most individuals 

 going further north to breed and further south to winter. The Ued-iiead 

 is more decidedly migratory, and most abundant in summer. 1 never 

 found it between October and April. Tlfcis corresponds with Dr. Turn- 

 buli's observations, made in Penn.><ylvania and iS'ew Jersey, where, he 



