ZOOLOGY. 15t) 



ORDER II. &CANSOEES, 



Climbing Birds. 



Family PICIDAE. — The Woodpeckers. 

 PIC US HARRISII, Aud. 



Harris's AVoodpecker. 



Picus liarrisii. Add. Orn. Eiog. V, 1839, 191 ; pi. 417.— 1b. Syn. 1839, 178.— Ib. Birds America, IV, 1842, 242; 

 pi. 261, (dark-bellied variety.)— Nutt-vll, Man. I, 2J ed. 1840, 637.— Baird, Gen. Rep. 

 Birds, p. 87. 

 ? Picus inornatus, Liciit. (Bon. Con=p.) 



Plcus {Trichopicus) harrisil, Bp. Consp Zyg. Aten. Ital. 1854, 8. 

 Sp. Ch. — Above black, a white stripe down the back. The only white spots on the surface of tlie folded wings are seen 

 on the outer webs of the primaries and outer secondaries, (none on tertials.) Beneath whitish, with faint streaks on the 

 side of the body. Two white and two black stripes on eacli side of the head ; the latter confluent with the black cf the nerk; 

 the upper while stripe nearly confluent. Three outer tail feathers with the exposed portions white. Length, 9.75 inches; 

 extent, IG inches ; wing, 5 inches. Male, with a nuchal scarlet crest covering the white of the back of the head. 

 Size and general appearance that of the hairy woodpecker, Picus villosus. Iris, hazel ; feet, gray. 

 Hab. — From the Pacific coast to the eastern slope of the Rocky mountains. 



Harris's woodpecker is the most abundant species in the Territory, being found on both 

 sides of the Ctiscade mountains, frequenting the lower parts of the great coniferous trees. It 

 is a constant resident, and in May burrows out a nest in a dead tree sometimes only four feet 

 from the ground. In cries and habits it is so exactly like the larger "sapsucker" of the 

 Atlantic States, that were there not constant and unchangeable differences in plumage it would 

 be taken for the same species. — C. 



Quite abundant. Obtained at Fort Dalles, where it is found among the true ^jmes, and at 

 Foi-t Steilacoom, among thejirs, (A. Douglassii.) It is a winter resident in both localities. — S. 



PICUS GAIRDNERI, Aud. 



Gairduer*s "Woodpecker, 



Picus gairdneri, Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 317.— Ib. Syn.1839, 180.— Ib. Birds Amer. IV, J842, 252, (not figured.)— 



Baird, Gen. Rep. Birds, p 91. 

 Pictis meridionalis, Nutt. Man. I, 2d ed., 1840, G90, (not of Swainson.) 

 Sp. Cii. — Very similar in size and color to P. piibescens ; darker. Larger wing coverts, and more exposed tertials, either 

 pure black, or with but occasional spots on the outer web in the latter. Black with a white median stripe. Side of head 

 with two white and two black stripes. Two outer tail feathers white, with two bands of black at the end. Male with a 

 scarlet occipital band. Length, GJ inches ; extent, II j ; wing, 3J ; generally rather less. Iris, reddish brown ; feet, bluish 

 black ; bill, gray. 

 Hab. — With P, harrisii, from Pacific coast to eastern base of Rocky mountains. 



The remarks applied to Harris's can be also used respecting the close affinity of "Gairdner's 

 wookpecker " to its eastern analogue, commonly known as the little sapsucker, and to naturalists 

 as the "downy woodpecker," to distinguish it from the larger species, which is rather inap- 

 propriately called the "hairy woodpecker." This little bird seems purposely adapted for the 

 business of ridding the smaller forest trees of tlie insects which infest their bark, as its larger 

 relative is for its constant labor at the bark of the larger trees. "Gairdner's" woodpecker 

 is always found among the oaks, maples, and alders, industriously pecking the bark at all hours 

 of the day, occasionally uttering its shrill cry as it flies from one to another. In habits, flight, 

 and cries, it is a perfect miniature of the preceding, besides resembling so closely the small 



