218 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



times they were rather vociferous, particularly when excited. When 

 alarmed they hid motionless among the limbs and remained thus for 

 some time. One of the specimens taken had the third toe on one 

 foot only partly developed with no claw, while the fourth toe on 

 the opposite side had a deformed claw. Yet this bird climbed with- 

 out difficult3^ 



At Tapia, Tucuman, these woodpeckers were fairly common from 

 April 9 (when one w^as taken) to 13, 1921. They ranged through the 

 scrubby forest in little bands that contained from three to six indi- 

 viduals, usually in the vicinity of the giant cactus that grew abun- 

 dantly in this region. Frequently they clambered about or perched 

 on the cacti, and holes of some small woodpecker in the cactus trunks 

 were attributed to this species. 



An adult male, taken July 19, had the bill dull black; iris natal 

 brown ; tarsus and toes deep-grayish olive. 



An immature male from Tapia, not wholly in adult plumage, has 

 the light dorsal line smokj' gray instead of white as in specimens 

 from Las Palmas. 



LEUCONERPES CANDmUS (Otto) 



Picus candidus Otto, Nat. Vog. Biiffon, vol. 23, 1796, p. 191. (Cayeune.) 



This handsome woodpecker was recorded first at Las Palmas, 

 Chaco, on July 28, 1920, when half a dozen passed with low chatter- 

 ing notes. At the Riacho Pilaga, August 12, three were seen and 

 collected, and others were recorded on August 21, near Fontana, 

 on the railroad. Two were noted at Formosa, August 23. Near 

 Puerto Pinasco, Paraguay, one was observed September 3, while 

 near Kilometer 80, west of Puerto Pinasco, they were fairly com- 

 mon on September 7, 17, and 18. Three were taken on the date 

 last mentioned. These birds are gregarious, at least in winter, and 

 seem to Avander, as they were seen in flight in long looping boimds 

 over the open country, when their contrasted colors of black and 

 w^hite were sure to attract attention. When at rest they were encoun- 

 tered in regions of scattered trees in the savannas, or in the open, 

 straggling growth of palmars. Their gregariousness was marked, 

 and when in flight if one alighted the others came down at once to 

 join it, while they hovered over dead companions, or rested near by 

 with scolding notes. Their usual call was a drawn out kee-ee-ee or 

 kee-ee-ah, uttered with a mournful cadence, given with greater 

 vehemence when the birds were excited. When approached they had 

 the usual woodpecker habit of working around to the opposite side 

 of a tree trunk, but in some cases paid little attention to me. In 

 mid-September, wdth approach of the mating season, males extended 

 their wings above the back and then fairly danced up the tree 

 trunks with raised crest, mouth opened, and excited calls. In many 

 of their ordinary mannerisms they suggested ant-eating woodpeckers. 



