520 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



collar on the nape. Male with the entire top of the head streaked with red, becoming 

 more conspicuous behind ; each red streak with a white spot at base. Feathers covering 

 the nostrils smoky-brown. Length, 7.15; extent, 12.15; wing, 4.00 ; bill above, 1.00; 

 middle toe and claw, .80; tarsus, .76. 

 Hab. Cape St. Lucas. 



Of the distinctness of this bird as a species from P. nuttalli and scalaris I 

 had at one time no doubt ; but the discovery that the otherwise typical 

 scalaris from Mazatlan and Western Mexico generally have the same mai'k- 

 ings on the tail has induced me to consider it as a kind of connecting link. 

 I have, however, thought it best to give a detailed description for compari- 

 son. Of about the same size with nuttalli, the bill and feet are mucli 

 larger. The legs, indeed, are nearly, if not quite, as large as those of 

 male P. villosus from Pennsylvania ; the bill, however, is somewhat less. 

 The relations to P. scalaris are seen in the dorsal bands extending to the 

 nape, the smoky-brown feathers of the nostrils, the red on the whole top 

 of head (scattering anteriorly), the brownish shade beneath, the width of 

 the white cheek-bands, etc. On the other hand, it has the black bands of 

 the back rather wider than the white, as in nuttalli, and the white outer 

 tail-feathers even less banded with black. The two outer are entirely white, 

 with one terminal black bar : one or two spots on the outer web ; and two 

 or three bands on the inner, with a sub-basal patch on the inner web, even 

 smaller than in iiuttalli. It is rarely that even two continuous transverse 

 bands can be seen to cross both webs of the tail. The bill and feet are 

 much larger. 



The following measurements taken from the largest specimens before us 

 of Dyctiopicus, and one of P. villosus, will illustrate what has been said of 

 the size of bill and feet of P. lucasanus. 



Habits. Nothing distinctive is known of the habits of this race. 



i 



