ZOOLOGY. 9 1 



covered with its crimson berries, on which they were feeding. From time to time several would 

 meet on one of the high spruce "stubs" which stood near, and apparently, have rare fun 

 dodging each other around it ; in this and in their generic rattling note indicating their 

 relationship to the " Red-head" of the east. 



They are always shy birds, and difficult to shoot ; yet elsewhere they may be less so, for, in 

 the previously unexplored region of California and Oregon which we traversed, the birds were 

 all much more shy and difficult of approach than those of districts populated by white men. 

 In its fly-catching habits, this species closely imitates the Oalifornian and eastern membent of 

 the genus. 



MELANERPES ALBOLARVATUS. 



White-headed Woodpecker. 



Tliis species we found only in the Cascade mountains of Oregon, where it is, apparently, not 

 common. 



COLAPTES MEXICANUS. 



Red-shafted Flicker. 



The Red-shafted Flicker is a rather common bird in all parts of California and Oregon which 

 we visited. Many of its habits are identical with those of the Golden Flicker (C. auratus.) Like 

 that species, he is often seen hopping along on the ground and seeking his food there, and the note, 

 which has given to the eastern species the provincial name of " Wake up," is closely imitated 

 by his western representative. The Red-shafted Flicker is, however, much the shyer bird. 



APTERNUS ARCTICUS. 



Three-toed Woodpecker 



This Woodpecker we found only in the Cascade mountains, within a hundred miles of the 

 Columbia. 



GEOCOCCYX VIATICUS. 



Road Runner. Paisano. 



This singular bird, which is quite common in southern California and Mexico, we found as far 

 north as Fort Reading, at the upper end of the Sacramento Valley. It is there limited to the hilly 

 districts, and frequents the chapparal of " Manzanita," Arbutus laurifolia, and " Grease wood," 

 (Ceanothus cuneifolius ,) which, with scattered trees of the long-acorned oak and the nut pine, 

 (Q. longiglandis and P. Sabineana,) form the vegetation of the district. The piles and ledges 

 of trap rock give shelter to great numbers of lizards, and these appear to compose the greater 

 part of the subsistence of the " racer," as it is called, its swiftness of foot being proverbial there, 

 as in all localities where the bird is known. 



The Geococcyx is found throughout the whole range of hills bordering the Sacramento valley 

 on the east, becoming more abundant towards the south. It is frequently brought into the 

 San Francisco market and is reported very good eating. 



