3Gfi GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. 



scarlet arnun.l occiput. Rump and upper tail coverts, w'.iite, while the feathers of the latter are marked in lines, edgings, 

 spots, and hai-s of black. Bill, brown. Feet, bluish. Iris, reddish. 



Adult female. Colored almost exactly like tlie adult male, cxcejifing that there is no l)laok patch on the cheek and the 

 colors below are perhaps a trifle lighter. 



Adult in autumn. Quite similar to the spring ilrcss liut darker, especiallj' above, while there are strong traces of ashy 

 on the throat. 



Nest' in;/ male. Retains, to a gi-eat extent, the iiatrevn of iiinrl:ing seen in t!io ailult. The black bandings abcvc are 

 muoii broader. Tlie tail is not barred but is edged on tiie outer webs with yellowish-white. The under parts are lighter 

 and the spots are not as dark nor is the crescent as long but the cheek patches are large. The top of the head is spriukled 

 with red iind the scarlet crescent is very M'ide. 



Nr.stlin<i female. Quite similar to the ab<rt"c described for, strangely enougli, the black cheek patches are almost al- 

 ways present. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There is considerable variation in amount of C(^lor and especially in the size of tlie s]iols which are hirger in some than 

 in otiiers. In regard to the highly colored Rad-shafted Flicker, I am conviuceil that it is identical with our species for, as 

 we proceed Westward, we find that the two forms grade insensibly into each other. Even in the East, notably in Penn- 

 sylvania, it is not unusual to find specimens showing red feathers in tlie black of the check patches. Sj)eciuiens taken in 

 Florida are not only smaller in size but are darker in c<ilor than those from New England. Distributed in summer throughout 

 the Eastern Section of the United States. Winters in the jMiudle aud Southern Portions, some remaining as far north ;vs 

 New England. 



DMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of nineteen specimens from New England. Length, 12'50; stretch, I9'25; wing, 5'03; tail, 

 4'.'55; bill, 1-25; tarsus, 1-0.5. Longest specimen, l.S'OO; greatest extent of wing, yO'Oll; longest wing,0'27; tail,4'70; bill, 

 p-tO; tarsus, POO. Shortest specimen, P2-00: smallest extent of wing, 18-o0; shortest wing,5-fi0; tail, 4-05; bill, POO; tar- 

 sus, POO. 



Average measurements of twenty-frar sjiecimens from Florida. Lcngtii, 12'.'!7; stretch, I8'75; wing, -^'HO; tail, 4'40; 

 bill, P25; tarsus. ■i)7. Longest specimen, 12-75; greatest extent of wing, PI-50; longest wing, ti-UO; tail, 4-85; bill, 145; 

 tarsus, P15. Shortest specimen, IPOO; smallest extent of wing, 1800; shortest wing, 4-GO: tail, 3-95; bill, P05; tarsus, 

 •HO. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in oylinder-shajjcd holes, usually excavated in dead trees. Dimensions, diameter of external orifice, 2-,50, 

 greatest internal, ."i-ilO. Internal depth, 18-00. 



Ei/r/s, six to eight in number, elliptical in form, pure, polished pearly-white in color, unspotted. Dimensions from 

 ■75s-yO to -SOx POO. A spoci:nen from Florida, cjlloetjd liy Mr. Frail A. Ober, measures 'Ms P15. The number of eggs 

 deposited in Florida is from four to five. 



HABITS. 



The Golden-winged Woodpeckers have a wide distribution and their well-known notes 

 are to be heard among the palms which border the wide-spread savannas of the extreme 

 southern main-land of Florida, in the trackless piney woods which occupy so much of the 

 country along the Atlantic sea-board, in the fertile valleys of Pennsylvania, and among 

 the pleasa-nt hiil-sido farms of New England. As they arc not only showy birds and con- 

 sequently attnict attention, but also make themsclvi.'S conspicuous by their loud cries, tliey 

 are noticed by nearly every one and, Miercf.nv, receive a (quantity of appellations many of 

 which are to be found in the talde of !oc;d names given at the end of the present volume. 



During the mild days of early spring in Massachusetts, while the snow still lingers in 

 the shadow of woods and on northern ex[iosures, the rapidly given call notes of this spe- 

 cies may be heard coming from t'le .npplo orchards. A little later, when the season has 

 become so far advanced as to preclude all possibility of a return of cold weather, thes<. 

 Woodjjeckei'S may be seen together in simdl t,ompa.nies and then the cny which is probably 



