72 THE FUCKER. 



beginning with the barred, running through the intermediates 

 to the concentric or longitudinally striated, and terminating 

 with the white-edged black feather. He says : "If we assume 

 that the phases just observed epitomize a transition which is 

 occurring in auratus, and if we furthur assume that auratiis is 

 the most recent offshoot of the Neotropical genus Colaptes, we 

 should expect the more southern and older species to exhibit 

 only the earlier stages of a color-pattern which in aurafiis has 

 reached its highest degree of development. Unfortunately 

 ver}^ large series of the extra-limital species are wanting ; so 

 far as my specimens go, however, the}' seem to support the 

 theory advanced." The posterior upper tail-coverts of two 

 Georgia specimens in juvenile plumage, now in my collection, 

 are black with minute white spot at tip ; a distinct and more 

 primitive pattern than any described above, from which I infer 

 it to be a stage almost outgrown and as seldom met with as the 

 white-edged black feather — its present highest stage of color- 

 pattern development. In the variation or transition of the 

 color-pattern of the spurious rectrices, we have a similar condi- 

 tion due mainly to age. This rudimentary tail feather, present 

 in all the Woodpeckers, lies concealed between the present 

 outer and next to outer tail feathers. I consider it of suffi- 

 cient importance to illustrate in twelve natural sized figures, 

 showing the progression from the primitive dot to spots, cross- 

 bars, and lastly the white-edged black feather, as something 

 seldom occurring. My series of skins is not large enough to 

 contain all stages ; hence the sequence may be faulty and is 

 undoubtedl}^ incomplete. Correlative data is incorporated with 

 the explanations on next page. 



Seasonal Variation. There are two distinct phases of col- 

 oration, autumnal and vernal, although but a single annual 

 molt. The post-breeding molt and renewal results in a some- 

 what deeper coloring of the upper plumage from nape to rump, 

 and a pronounced primrose suffusion of the under parts, and 

 occasionally the rump. After a few months of wear there is a 

 gradual fading of the upper plumage and a more pronounced 

 change in the lower parts, the primrose or straw-yellow first 

 disappearing from the flanks and anal region, the middle of 

 the abdomen only occasionally retaining a faint yellowish tint. 

 The breeding season is particularly' hard on the feathers of 



