BIRDS — riCin.NK — MKLAKF.RPKS TORQl'ATUS. 



115 



Specimens vary in the gloss on the black of the upper parts, which is sometimes green, 

 sometimes bluish. 



The young male is exactly like tlie adult ; the only evidence of immaturity being in the 

 shorter aud more curved bill, as well ns the smaller size. 



Specimens from New Leon are much smaller than those from California, as shown by a male, 

 (4033,) in which the wing is half an inch shorter than in California specimens. Many speci- 

 mens have a few red tipped feathers in the posterior edge of the pectoral collar, but it is not 

 found in all. Specimens from the Coppermines are about the size of Californian. 



List of specimens. 



MELANERPES TORQUATUS, Bonap. 



Lewis's Woodpecker. 



Piev3 torquaius, Wilson, Am. Om. Ill, 1811, 31 ; pi. x.\.— Wacler, Syst. Av. 1827, No. 82.— Add. Orn. Bio?. 



V, 1839, 176 ; pi. 416.— Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 280 ; pi. 273. 

 JVelanerpes lorquatus, Bp. Consp. 1850, 115.— Heermann. J. A. N. Sc. Phil. 2d ser. II, 1853, 270.— Newberry, 



Zool. Cal. & Or. Route, 90 -, in P. R. R. Surv. VI, 1857. 

 Pievi monlanus, Ord, in Guthrie's Geog. 2d Am. ed. II, 1815, 316. 

 Pieus Itaisii, Urapiez. (Gray.) 



Sp. Ch.— Feathers on the under parts bristle-like. Fourth quill longest ; then third and fifth. Above dark flossy green. 

 Breast, lower part of the neck and a narrow collar all round hoary grayish while. Around the base of the bill and sides of 

 the head to behind the eyes, dark crimson. Bellv blood red, streaked finely with hoary whitish. Wings and tail entirely uniform 

 dark glossy green. Female with the markings more obscure. Length about 10 J inches ; wing 6^. 



Hab. — Western America from Black hills to Pacific. 



