560 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



fibres are disconnected on their terminal portion, enlarged and stiffened, 

 almost bristle-like ; otherwise the characters are much as in Melanerpes. It 



Melanerpes erythrocephalus. 



should, however, be noted, that the feathers of the red portion of the head in 

 the other species have the same texture. 



Species and Varieties. 



A. Sexes similar. Young very different from the adult. 



M. torquatus. Feathers of the lower parts, as well as of frontal, lateral, 

 and under portions of the head, with the fibres bristle-like. (Asyndesmus, 

 CouES.) Upper parts wholly uniform, continuous, very metallic blackish- 

 green. A duU. Forehead, lores, cheeks, and chin deep crimson, of a burnt- 

 carmine tint; jugulum, breast, and a ring entirely around the nape, grayish- 

 white ; abdomen light carmine. Back glossed with purplish-bronze. Young 

 without the red of the head, and lacking the grayish nuchal collar; abdomen 

 only tinged with red, no purple or bronze tints above. Wing, 6.70 ; tail, 

 4.50. Hah. Western Province of the United States, from the Black Hills 

 to the Pacific. 



M. erythrocephalus. Feathers generally soft, blended ; those of the whole 

 head and neck with stiffened and bristle-like fibres in the adult. Secondaries, 

 rump, and upper tail-coverts, with whole lower parts from the neck, con- 

 tinuous pure white. Two lateral tail-feathers tipped with white. Adult. 

 Whole head and neck bright venous-crimson or blood-red, with a black 

 convex posterior border across the jugulum ; back, wings, and tail glossy 

 blue-black. Young. Head and neck grayish, streaked with dusky ; back 

 and scapulars grayish, spotted with black ; secondaries with two or three 

 black bands ; breast tinged with grayish, and with sparse dusky streaks. 

 Wing, 5.90 ; tail, 3.90. Hah. Eastern Province of the United States, west 

 to the Rocky Mountains. 



B. Sexes dissimilar ; young like the adult. 



M. formicivorus. Forehead and a broad crescent across the middle of the 

 throat (the two areas connected by a narrow strip across the lore), white, 

 more or less tinged with sulphur-yellow. Rump, upper tail-coverts, ab- 



