PICIDiE — THE WOODPECIOiRS. 



373 



" Wilson's Ornithology," is published, with a figure of some very distinct 

 foreign species. 



While stationed at Sacramento in 18G5, I found these birds quite com- 

 mon in the large cotton wood-trees about the city, from about May 1st to 

 September 1st, but as usual very shy, and I could not find any nests. WhUe 

 travelling south througii the San Joaquin Valley, in Septenil^er, I neither 

 saw nor heard them, though there are gTOves along the river-banks suited 

 for them ; and as they migrate south in that month from the Atlantic States, 

 they must pass very silently and I'apidly into ^Mexico, as I have not seen 

 them ill tlie south parts of California. 



Family PICID.E, The Woodpeckers, 



CiiAR. Bill straight, rigid, and chisel-shaped at the tip, the base without 

 rictal Ijristles. Feet stout, covered anteriorly with broad plates. Tail 

 feathers twelve, the exterior very small and concealed. Primaries ten, the 

 first very short, secondaries nine to twelve. Tongue elongated and acute, 

 with short spines or barbs on each side near the point. 



Of the eight genera found in Northern America, California possesses rep- 

 resentatives of all, and more species than any other district of equal ex- 



P. JlaTTisii. 



tent. Individuals arc very abundant in some district.s, and they are axery- 

 where conspicuous birds, on account of the noise made in hammering 



