PICID^ — THE WOODPECKERS. 517 



marked, sometimes with only one spot on outer web ; the third has the 

 black scallops restricted. This may be called var. graysoni, as most speci- 

 mens in the Smithsonian collection were furnished by Colonel Grayson. 

 The size is equal to the largest typical scalaris. 



We next come to the Cape St. Lucas bird, described by Mr. Xantus as P. 

 lucasanus. Here the bill and feet become disproportionally larger and more 

 robust than in any described ; the black bands of the back larger than the 

 white, perhaps few^er in number. The continuous red of the head also ap- 

 pears restricted to a stripe above and behind the eye and on the occiput, al- 

 though there are some scattered feathers as far forward as above the eyes. 

 The specimens are, however, not in very good plumage, and this marking 

 cannot be very well defined ; the red may really be as continuous forward as 

 in the last variety. The nasal tufts are brown, as in the typical scalaris. 

 The outer three tail-feathers in most specimens show still more white, with 

 one or two indistinct terminal bands only on the outer two ; one or two 

 additional spots, especially on inner web, and the sub-basal patch of inner 

 web greatly reduced. Specimens vary here in this respect, as in other races 

 of scalaris, but the average is as described. 



Notwithstanding the decided difference between typical scalaris and luca- 

 sanits, the discovery of the variety graysoni makes it possible to consider both 

 as extremes of one species. To nuttalli, however, it is but one step farther ; 

 a restriction of the red to the posterior half of the top of head, the white 

 instead of brown nasal feathers, and the whiter under parts being the only 

 positive characters. The markings of the tail are almost identical with those 

 of lucasanus. The anterior portion of the back is, however, not banded, as 

 in the several varieties described. For this reason it may therefore be ques- 

 tioned whether, if lucasanus and scalaris are one, nuttalli should not belong 

 to the same series. 



We thus find that the amount of black on the tail is greatest in South- 

 ern and Southeastern Mexican specimens, and farther north it begins to 

 diminish ; in Western Mexico it is still more reduced, while at Cape St. 

 Lucas the white is as great in amount as in the Upper Californian P. 

 nuttalli. 



The characters given above for the different varieties or races of Picus 

 scalaris, as far as they relate to the tail, may be expressed in the following 

 table, illustrated by the accompanying diagram, showing the markings of 

 outer tail-feather in scalaris and nuttalli. 



Outer tail-feathers with seven distinct transverse black bands. 



These bands confluent on inner web near the base . . v&v. scalaris . 



Bands distinct on inner web var. hairdi. 



Bands on outer tail-feather distinct on outer webs at end only, obsolete 

 or wanting towards base (as in nuttalli). 



Tarsus, .68. Bill and legs as in average .... var. graysoni. 



Tarsus, .78. Bill and legs very stout .... var. lucasanus. 



