BIRDS PICIDAE — COLAPTES AURATUS. 



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longitudinal. Western specimens are rather paler above ; occasionally purer ash on the head. 

 All, too, have the proportions of the quills a little different. Thus, in one the fourth and fifth 

 quills are equal ; the third shorter than the sixth ; the fifth is, however, in most a little longer. 

 One specimen from Selkirk Settlement has the helly tinged with pale sulphur yellow ; the back 

 with a stronger shade of olivaceous green. 



This species in general pattern of coloration resembles the C. mexicanus, although the colors 

 are very different. Thus the shafts of the quills, with their under surfaces, are gamboge 

 yellow, inst(;ad of orange red. There is a conspicuous nuchal crescent of crimson wanting, or 

 but slightly indicated in mexicanus. The cheek patch is pure black, widening and abruptly trun- 

 cate behind, instead of bright crimson, pointed or rounded behind. The shade of the upper parts 

 is olivaceous green, instead of purplish brown. The top of the head and nape are more ashy. 

 The chin, throat, neck, and sides of the head are pale purplish or lilac brown, instead of bluish 

 ash ; the space above, below, and around the eye of the same color, instead of having reddish 

 brown above and ashy below. The third quill is longest, the fourth and fifth but little shorter, 

 instead of having the fifth longest ; the third shorter than the fourth also. 



The young of this species is sufficiently like the adult to be readily recognizable. Sometimes 

 the entire crown is faintly tipped with red, as customary in young woodpeckers. 



List of specimens. 



