PICID^ — THE WOODPECKERS. 563 



Territory and in New Mexico ; while Dr. Cooper, in his Eeport on the 

 zoology of Washington Territory, speaks of it as being common, during 

 summer, in all the interior districts, but seldom or never approaching the 

 coast. It arrives at Puget Sound early in May, and some even remain, dur- 

 ing mild winters, in the Territory. According to his account, it burrows 

 holes for its nests at all heights from the ground, but commonly in dead 

 trees. The eggs are described as pure white, and, when fresh, translucent, 

 like those of all the Woodpecker tribe, and hardly distinguishable in size 

 and general appearance from those of the Golden-winged Woodpecker 

 (Colaptes auratus). Its harsh call is rarely uttered in summer, when it 

 seems to seek concealment for itself and nest. The flocks of young, which 

 in fall associate together to the number of eight or ten, are more noisy. Dr. 

 Suckley, in the same Eeport (page 162), speaks of this Woodpecker as being 

 very abundant throughout the more open portions of the timbered region of 

 the northwest coast, preferring oak openings and groves. At Fort Dalles, on 

 the Columbia, they are extremely numerous, not only breeding there during 

 summer, but also found as winter residents. Their breeding-places are gen- 

 erally holes in oak and other trees, which, from the appearance of all he 

 examined, seemed to have been excavated for the purpose. At Puget Sound 

 this species was found less frequently than at Fort Dalles, on the Columbia. 

 At the latter place they were constant winter residents. Dr. Suckley also 

 speaks of them as being semi -gregarious in their habits. 



Mr. Lord thinks that this Woodpecker is not to be met with west of the 

 Cascade Mountains, but says it is very often found between the Cascades and 

 the Rocky Mountains, where it frequents the open timber. The habits and 

 modes of flight of this bird, he states, are not the least like a Woodpecker's. 

 It flies with a heavy flapping motion, much like a Jay, feeds a good deal on 

 the ground, and chases insects on the wing like a Shrike or a Kingbird. 

 Whilst mating they assemble in large numbers, and keep up a continual, 

 loud, chattering noise. They arrive at Colville in April, begin nesting in 

 May, and leave again in October. The nest is in a hole in a dead pine-tree, 

 usually at a considerable height from the ground. 



Dr. Cones says this bird is very common at Fort Whipple, in Arizona, 

 where it remained in moult until November. 



Mr. J. A. Allen found this the most numerous of the Picidm in Colo- 

 rado Territory. He also states that it differs considerably in its habits from 

 all the other Woodpeckers. He frequently noticed it rising high into the 

 air almost vertically, and to a great height, apparently in pursuit of insects, 

 and descending again as abruptly, to repeat the same manoeuvre. It was 

 met with by Mr. Ridgway in the Sacramento Valley, along the eastern base 

 of the Sierra Nevada, and in the East Humboldt Mountains. In the first- 

 mentioned locality it was the most abundant Woodpecker, and inhabited the 

 scattered oaks of the plains. In the second region it was very abundant — 

 perhaps more so than any other species — among the scattered pines along 



