492 



SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — PICARI^ — PICIFORMES. 



Analysis of Species. 



Bed inoustacbes in cf ; no red on nape in cf $ ; wings and tail orange-red underneath; cap lilac-brown; 



tbroat ashy ; no yellow on belly ; back umber-brown (Western) mexicanus 459 



(Mixed in every degree with) 

 Black moustaches in (f ; red nuchal crescent in ff ; wings and tail golden-yellow underneath; cap ashy; 



throat lilac-brown; yellow on belly; back olive-brown (Eastern) auratus 457 



(Not mixed with) 

 Red moustaches in <f ; no red on nape in jf 9 ; wings and tail golden-yellow underneath ; cap lilac-brown ; 

 throat ashy; yellow on belly; back umber-brown (Southwestern) chrysoides 458 



Fig. 345. — Golden-winged Woodpecker, J nat. size. (From Brehm.) 



Obs. It will be noted, how curiously these species are distinguished mainly by a diflFerent 

 combination of common characters. — Colaptes atjresi Aud., C. hyhridus Baird, C. aurato- 

 mexicanus Sundevall, is a form from the Missouri and Rocky Mt. regions in which the charac- 

 ters of mexicanus and auratus are blended in every conceivable degree in diflFerent specimens. 

 Perhaps it is a hybrid, and perhaps it is a transitional form, and doubtless there are no such 

 things as species in Nature. Eastern specimens of auratus sometimes show red touches in the 

 black maxillary patch, as is frequently the case with Kansas examples. In the West, you 



