558 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



breeding near San Antonio, boring for its nest-hole into a mesquite-tree. 

 Mr. Dresser was informed by Dr. Heermann, who has seen many of their 

 nests, that he never found them in any other tree. 



These birds were found breeding by Dr. Berlandier, and his collection con- 

 tained quite a number of their eggs. Nothing was found among his papers 

 in relation to their habits or their manner of breeding. Their eggs, procured 

 by him, are of an oblong-oval shape, and measure 1.05 inches in length by 

 .85 of an inch in breadth. 



Centurus uropygialis, Baird. 



GILA WOODPECKER. 



Centurus uropygialis, Baird, Pr. A. N. Sc. Ph. VII, June, 1854, 120 (Bill Williams 

 River, N. M. — Ib. Birds N. Am. 1858, 111, pi. xxxvi. — Cab. Jour. 1862, 330. — Sun- 

 DEVALL, Coiisp. 54. — Kennerly, P. R. R. X, b, pi. xxxvi. — Heermann, X, c, 17. 

 CouES, Pr. Avi. 1866, 54 (S. Arizona). —Cooper, Oni. Cal. I, 1870, 399. Centurus 

 hypopolius, (Bp.) Pucheran, Rev. et Mag. 1853, 163 (not Picus {Centurus) hypopoUus, 

 Wagler). Zcbrapicus kaupii, Malherbe, 1855. — -Gray, Catal. Br. Mex. Centurus 

 sulfureiventer, Reichenbach, Handbuch, Picinae, Oct. 1854, 410, figs. 4411, 4412. 



Sp. Char. Third, fourth, and fifth quills longest, and about equal. Back, rump, and 

 upper tail-coverts transversely barred with black and white, purest on the two latter. 

 Head and neck all round pale dirty-brown, or brownish-ash, darkest above. A small 

 subquadrate patch of red on the middle of the crovv^n, separated from the bill by dirty 

 white. Middle of the abdomen gamboge-yellow ; under tail-coverts and anal region 

 strongly barred with black. First and second outer tail-feathers banded black and white, 

 as is also the inner web of the inner tail-feather ; the outer web of the latter with a 

 white stripe. Length, about 9.00 ; wing, 5.00. Female with the head uniform brownish- 

 ash, without any red or yellow. 



Hab. Lower Colorado River of the West, to Cape St. Lucas. South to Mazatlan. 

 Localities : W. Arizona (Coues, P. A. N. S, 18G6, 54). 



Habits. This species was first discovered by Dr. Kennerly in his route 

 along the 35th parallel, and described by Professor Baird, in 1854. The 

 Doctor encountered it almost continually during the entire march along the 

 Big Sandy, Bill Williams Fork, and the Great Colorado ; but it was so very 

 shy that he had great difficulty in procuring specimens. Seated in the top of 

 the tree, it was ever on guard ; and, upon the approach of danger, flew away, 

 accompanying its flight with the utterance of very peculiar notes. Its flight . 

 was in an undulating line, like that of otlier birds of this class. 



Dr. Heermann found this Woodpecker abundant on the banks of the 

 Gila Eiver among the mesquite-trees. The giant cactus, often forty feet , 

 high, which grows abundantly on the arid hillsides througliout that whole 

 section of country, was frequently found filled with holes bored out by 

 this bird. The pith of the plant is extracted until a chamber of suitable 

 size is obtained, when the juice exuding from the wounded surface hardens, 

 and forms a smooth dry coating to the cavity, thus making a convenient 



