BIRDS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. 12\) 



PICID^E, — The Woodpeckers. 



126. Picus villosus, Linn. — Hairy Woodpecker. Resi- 

 dent ; but not common in winter, and rare in summer. I 

 am confident that the specimens of this and the follow- 

 ing species seen in winter do not come from the far north, 

 or even from northern Maine and New Hampshire, for this 

 reason : specimens shot in the sections above mentioned 

 have the white terminal portion of the tail stained by the 

 bark of the hemlock and other evergreen trees, upon which 

 they climb in search of food, with an indelible, bright 

 rufous or ochre color; this color is never seen on speci- 

 mens taken here, even during severe winters. They must 

 be resident individually by this infallible proof. 



127. Picus pubescens, Linn. — Downy Woodpecker. 

 Resident. Abundant throughout the winter, not uncom- 

 mon in summer. 



128. Picoides arcticus, Gray. — Black-backed Three- 

 toed Woodpecker. Exceedingly rare winter visitor. There 

 are a male and female in the museum of the Peabody 

 Academy of Science, at Salem, taken on November 21, 

 1855, in Essex County, by S. Jillson. 



129. Picoides hirsutus, Gray. — Banded Three-toed 

 Woodpecker. Exceedingly rare winter visitor. Mr. Allen 

 informs me that Mr. G. 0. Welch took a pair in Lynn. 



130. Sphyrapicus varius, Baird. — Yellow-bellied 

 Woodpecker. Not common during the migrations. Fre- 

 quents open woods. I do not think it breeds. 



131. Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Swain. — Red- 

 headed Woodpecker. Exceedingly rare summer visitor, per- 

 haps accidental. I have never seen it living. A male 

 taken by S. Jillson, in Essex County, in 1855. One seen 

 by Mr. W. Brewster, in summer, at Waltham. 



132. Colaptes auratus, Swain. — Golden-winged Wood- 



