PICID^ — THE WOODPECKERS. 513 



Sp. Char. Similar to puhescens in size and markings, but with less white on the wings. 

 Varies from entire absence of exposed white spots on the middle and greater wing-coverts 

 and innermost secondaries, with small spots on the quills, to spots on most of their 

 feathers, but absent on some, and the spots generally larger. 



Hab. Pacific coast of United States to Rocky Mountains. Darkest and with least 

 white in Western Oregon and Washington. 



In the preceding article we have given the comparative characters of this 

 form, which we can only consider as a variety, and not very permanent or 

 strongly marked at that. 



As in puhescens, this race varies much in the color of the under parts, 

 which are sometimes pure white, sometimes smoky-brown. It is suggested 

 that this is partly due to a soiling derived from inhabiting charred trees. 

 It is, at any rate, of no specific value. 



Habits. Gairdner's Woodpecker is the western representative and coun- 

 terpart of the Downy Woodpecker of the east, resembling it in size and 

 general habits, and only differing from it in certain exceptional character- 

 istics already mentioned. It is found throughout western North America, 

 probably from Mexico to the British Possessions, and from the eastern base 

 of the Eocky Mountains to the Pacific. 



Dr. Cooper met with it in California, chiefly in the northern parts of the 

 State, but did not observe any south of the Santa Clara Valley. Dr. Coues 

 saw none in Arizona, or possibly a single specimen not positively ascer- 

 tained. 



Dr. Cooper found one of its nests near Santa Clara, on the 24th of May, 

 containing young. It had been burrowed in a small and partly rotten tree, 

 and was about five feet from the ground. From the fact that they were 

 found breeding so far south he infers that among the mountains they prob- 

 ably occur nnich farther to the south, as do most other northern birds. He 

 found them frequenting chiefly the smaller trees in the vicinity of the ever- 

 green woods, where they were to be seen at all seasons industriously tapping 

 the bark to obtain insects. 



Dr. Newberry mentions finding them very common in Oregon, and also 

 in Northern California. In Washington Territory, Dr. Suckley found them 

 extremely common on the Lower Columbia, especially among the willow- 

 trees lining its banks. They were resident throughout the winter, and in these 

 situations were very abundant. In January, 1856, he found them so abun- 

 dant among the willows growing on the islands in the delta of the Willa- 

 mette, that he readily obtained eight specimens in the space of an hour. At 

 that season they were very unwary, giving little heed to the presence of man, 

 not even allowing the near discharge of a gun to interfere with their busy 

 search for food. 



Dr. Heermann speaks of it as neither common nor especially rare. He 

 obtained several specimens among the mountains of Northern California. 



Mr. Lord met with these Wood]ieckers abundantly in the Northwestern 



VOL. II. 05 



