94 



U. S. p. K. K. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



yellowish or whitish color of the bristly frontal feathers, in marked contrast with the forehead, 

 instead of a smoky brown, will readily distinguish them, independently of the loose downy 

 texture of the belly feathers, so characteristic of young woodpeckers. 



This species was first described by Dr. Gambel as P. tiuttalli, who subsequently referred it 

 erroneously to P. scalaris. It appears to be confined to the region in California west of the 

 coast range, and extending at least as far south as San Diego. In this distribution it rep_ 

 resents the P. borealis of the South Atlantic States. 



List of specvnens. 



Locality. 



California 



d') 



Santa Clara, ' .'al. 

 do 



San Francisco 



Petaluma, Cal 



Bodega, Cal. 



Yrclia, Cal 



Umpqua river, 0. T. 



VVhen collected. 



Nov. — , 1855 

 do 



May — , 1856 

 Jan. — , 1855 

 Aug. — , 1855 

 do 



Whence obtained. 



Collecteil by — 



Dr. Wilson ... 



do 



Dr. J. G. Cooper 

 do 



Dr. Gambc! . 



R. D. Cutis 



E. Samuels .- 



Lieut. Trowbridge . 

 Lieut. Williamson . 

 , do 



Mr. Szibo 



Dr. Newberry. 

 do 



PICUS SCALARIS, Wagler. 



Picus scaiaris, Wagler, Isis, 1829, V, 511. (Mexico.)— Bonap. Consp. 1850, 138. 



Picus (Dyctioincus) scularis, Bos. Consp. Zysod. Alen. Ital. 1854, 8. 



Picus gracili". Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, 90. (Me.\ico.) 



Picus parous, Cabot, Boston Jour. N. H. V, 1845, 90. (Sisal, Yucatan.) 



Sp. Ch. — Back banded transversely witii black and white to the neck. Crown crimson spotted with white, from tiie bill to 

 the nape ; tuft of feathers at the base of the bill brown. A white stripe above the eye, continued on the side of the neck ; 

 another under the eye, interrupted by the black of the side of the head. Under parts smoky brownish white, spotted on the 

 Bides of the breast, and banded on the ilank with black. Predominating color of the three outer tail feathers black, with white 

 bands chiefly on the outer webs. Length about 6i inches ; v/ing 4j. Female without red on the head. 

 Hab. — Rocky mountains and its slopes, south of 35th parallel, to Yucatan. 



This species is among the smallest of all tlie North American species, and has been but 

 recently introduced into the fauna of the United States. The wings are long, reaching as far 

 as the short feathers of the tail. The third and fourth quills are longest, the second and then 

 the fifth a little shorter. The upper parts generally arc black, on the back, rumj), and exposed 

 feathers of the wings, banded narrowly and transversely witli white; the primaries spotted witli 

 the same on both webs. Tlie upper tail coverts and two inner tail feathers on either side are 

 black. The white bands of the back extend all the way up to the neck, without any interscapular 

 interruption. Tiie under jjarts arc of a pale smoky brownish white, almost with a lilac tinge ; 

 on tlie sides of the breast and belly are a few scattereil sliort, but elongated spots. Tlio posterior 

 part of the sides under the wing and the under tail coverts are obscurely banded transversely 

 with black. Tlie top of llic liead, extending from the very base of tlie bill to a short, broad 

 nuchal crest, is crimson in the male, each featlier with a white spot between the crimson and 



