42 " BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



men; sixth and seventh, or sixth, seventh, and eighth, primaries 

 longest, ninth shorter than sixth {M. portoricensis) or seventh (1/. 

 erythrocephalus) , the tenth (outermost) more than one- third as long 

 as ninth ( M. portoricensis) or less than one-third as long ( M. erythro- 

 cepJidlus). Tail slightly more than half as long as wing (in M. eryth- 

 rocephalus) to about three-fifths as long (M. portoricensis), the middle 

 rectrices strongly acuminate terminally. Tarsus shorter than either 

 outer toe with claw, rather slender; outer hind toe about as long as 

 outer front toe, or very slightly shorter. 



Coloration. — Adults with plumage of tliroat and chest hair-like, 

 crimson; back, wing-coverts, primaries (secondaries also in M. porto- 

 ricensis), and tail black; rump and upper tail-coverts white (second- 

 aries and under parts of body, except chest, also white in M. 

 erythrocephalus) . 



Range. — United States and southern Canada east of Rocky Moun- 

 tains; one species peculiar to Porto Rico and St. Thomas, Greater 

 Antilles. (Two species.) 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF MELANERPES. 



a. Secondaries and under parts mostly white; lateral rectrices tipped with white. 

 b. Head, neck, and chest uniform crimson; back uniform glossy blue-black; under 

 parts of body immaculate white (sometimes tinged with red on abdomen); 

 inner secondaries without black spots. (United States and southern Canada 



east of Rocky Mountains.) Melanerpes erythrocephalus, adults (p. 42). 



bb. Head, neck, and chest brownish gray or grayish brown streaked or spotted with 

 dusky; back barred or squamated with grayish brown or brownish gray; 

 under parts of body dull white streaked laterally with dusky; inner second- 

 aries with a large subterminal spot of black. 



Melanerpes erythrocephalus, young (p. 44). 

 aa. Secondaries wholly black (inner ones sometimes edged with white on distal por- 

 tion); lateral rectrices not tipped with white. 

 b. Malar region, chin, throat, and median portion of remaining under parts crimson. 



(Porto Rico.) Melanerpes portoricensis, adult male« (p. 47). 



bb. Malar region, chin, and throat grayish brown; red on under parts of body more 

 or less interrupted. 



Melanerpes portoricensis, adult female and young (p. 47). 



MELANERPES ERYTHROCEPHALUS (Linnaeus). 



RED-HEADED WOODPECKEE. 



Adults {sexes alilce^). — Head, neck, and upper chest uniform 

 bright crimson, margined posteriorly by a more or less distinct 

 (usually more or less concealed) semicircular band of black across 

 chest; back and scapulars uniform glossy blue-black, the wing- 



a Some adult females also. 



b After carefully examining a very large number of sexed specimens I have been 

 imable to find any average (much less constant) difference of coloration between 

 the sexes. 



