THE NORTHERN PILEATED WOODPECKER. 351 



does not remain anywhere to nest with us. The species is unique among our 

 Woodpeckers, in that it is strictly migratory, while the Red-head, our only 

 other migratory species, frequently breaks the rules and stays the year around. 

 The Sapsucker may breed northerly, since it is known to do so in Indiana, bat 

 mi authentic reports have come in for Ohio. It winters casually in the south- 

 ern part of this state, and has appeared at that season as far north as McCon- 

 nelsville. 



No. 154. 



NORTHERN PILEATED WOODPECKER. 



A. < 1. U. Xo. 405 a. Ceophloeus pileatus abieticola Bangs 



Synonym. — LoGco< K. 



Description. — Adult male: General plumage sooty black, lusterless save 

 on wings and back ; whole top of head and lengthened crest bright red ; red malar 

 stripes changing to black behind, and separating white spaces ; chin and upper 

 throat white; also a white stripe extending from nostrils and below eye to nape, 

 and produced downward and backward to shoulder ; a narrow white stripe over 

 and behind eye; lining and edge of wing, and a large spot (nearly concealed) at 

 base of primaries, white ; black feathers of sides sparingly \vhke-tipped ; bill dark 

 plumbeous above, lighter below, save at tip; feet black. Adult female: Similar, 

 but black on forehead, and black instead of red malar stripes. Length 15.50-1g.00 

 (393.7-482.6); wing 8.50-10.00 (215.9-254.); tail 5.85-7.40 ( 148.6-188.) ; head 

 4.50-5.50 (114.3-139.7); bill 1.75-2.65 (44.5-67.3). 



Recognition Marks. — Largest size; black, white and red on head in stripes; 

 body mainly black. 



Nest, high in trees. Eggs, 4-6, white. Av. size, 1.29 x .94 (32.8 x 23.91. 



General Range. — Formerly the heavily wooded regions of North America 

 south of about latitude 63 , except in the southern Rocky Mountains. Now 

 rare or extirpated in the more settled parts of the Eastern States. 



Range in Ohio. — Rare and locally restricted. Reported recently from Ash- 

 tabula County, Morgan County, lower Scioto, and Little Miami Rivers, etc. 



IF the "curse of beauty" be added to that of large size, the destruction 

 of a bird is foredoomed in this age of automatic shot-guns and unappointed 

 game wardens. This magnificent black Woodpecker, once common through- 

 out the heavily timbered areas of our own and adjacent states, has almost 

 disappeared before the industrious axe and the all-conquering gun. The bird 

 has been recently reported only by Robert J. Sim, of Jefferson, and in "Middle 

 Southern Ohio." by Rev. W. F. Henninger. In an interesting communi- 

 cation, to which I am indebted for an account of the bird's habits, Mr. Sim 



