288 KORTH A ME RICA y BIRDS. 



Genus SPHYRAPICUS Baird. (Page 280, pi. LXXXIIL, fig. 3.) 

 Species. 



Common CnARACTERS. — Belly plain yellowish or white; upper parts black, more 

 or less varied with white, the inner webs of middle pair of tail-feathers largely or 

 chiefly white. 



a'. Eump mixed black and white ; belly pale sulphur-yellow, or whitish ; sexes not 

 VL'vy different in color. 

 b^. Chest with a black patch, and sides of head with white stripes in adult. 

 Advlt male with crown, forehead, chin, and throat crimson-red. Adult 

 female with chin and at least part of throat (entire throat in S. varius) 

 white, the forehead and crown sometimes (in individuals of S. varius) 

 glossy black, 

 c'. Nape brownish white. Adult male with red of throat separated from 

 the white stripe on cheeks by a distinct and continuous black malar 

 stripe, connecting with the black patch on chest. Adult female with 

 chin and throat entirely white, and red sometimes wanting on top 

 of head. Young : Black, red, and white of head, neck, and chest 

 nearly or quite wanting, the general color being a dull light 

 mottled brownish tint, the pattern of the adult but faintly indi- 

 cated. Length 7.75-8.75, wing (male) 4.80-5.00 (4.92), tail 2.90- 

 3.20 (3.07), culmen 1.00-1.08 (1.04). Eggs .88 X -67. Ifab. North- 

 ern and eastern North America, breeding from northern United 

 States northward; south, in winter, to West Indies, Mexico (both 

 coasts), and Guatemala. 



402. S. varius (Linn.). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. 

 c'. Nape more or less tinged with red (often with a distinct red band or 

 transverse patch). Adult male with red of throat extending, in 

 middle portion, quite to the white cheek-stripe, the black malar 

 stripe being thereby obliterated, except at extremities. Adult 

 female with lower part of throat (sometimes nearly whole throat) 

 red. Length 8.00-8.75, wing (male) 4.92-5.10 (5.03), tail 3.10-3.40 

 (3.26), culmen .95-1.02 (.99). Eggs .90 X -67. Ilab. Eocky Moun- 

 tain district of United States, west to eastern slope of Sierra Nevada 

 and Cascade ranges, south into mountains of Mexico. 



402(1. S. varius nuchalis Baird. Ked-naped Sapsucker. 

 b'. Chest without black patch, and sides of head without Avliite stripes. 



Adult {sexes ali/ie) : Head, neck, and chest uniform red, or with white 

 markings and black chest-patch of »S. varius and ^. iiuehalis showing 

 indistinctly through the plumage. Young : Similar to same stage 

 of S. varius and 5. nuchalis, but darker, the head, etc., usually with 

 a pronounced dull purplish red suffusion. Length about 8.50-9.25, 



