548 ORNITHOLOGY. 



out of gunshot range. On the eastern slope, it was common near Garson 

 City througliout the winter, keei)ing entirely among the pines, though some- 

 times coming down to the lower edge of the woods. 



The appearance of the White-headed Woodpecker is very striking, on 

 account of the bold contrast between the white head and neck and the 

 uniform black of the rest of the plumage — the white patch on the primaries 

 showing conspicuously only when the bird is flying. In its habits it resem- 

 bles the larger "Sapsuckers" (P. villosus and P. liarrisi), except that it is more 

 lively ill its disposition, in which respect it approaches quite nearly to the 

 playful Melanerpeae. Its notes, however, are quite distinctive, for although 

 they bear some resemblance to the clear, sharp diph of the species above 

 mentioned, the call forms a connected series of these notes, each ending in a 



rather suppressed twitter. 



List of specimens. 



435,<J«f;.; Carson City, March 10, 1868. 9/,— ISJ— 5x\— ^i- Bill, uniform slate- 

 black ; iris, (lull cariiiiiie ; tarsi and toes, olivaeeous-slate. Tongue protrudes ^ of an 

 inch beyond the end of the bill; its corneous tip white. [See under P. harrisi, p. 546.'] 



430, ? ad. (mate of No. 43.5). 9^ — 155—54—43. Same remarks. 



527, $ ad.; Carson City, April 25, 1808. 9g— KiJ— 5-3— .4|. 



528, ^ ad.; Carson City, April 25, 1868. 94— 15^5.r'j— 4/^. 



529, 9 ad. (mate of No. 528). 8|?— 15J— 5— 4f j. 



PiCOIDES ARCTICITS. 

 Black-backed Three-toed l^Vood pecker. 



PtcMS (ApternuH) areticus, SWAINSON, Fauna Bor. Am., II, 1831, 313, pi. 57. 



Picoides areticus, Gray, Genera of Birds, II, 184-, 4.34, pi. 108, fig. 7.— Baied, B. 

 N. Am., 1858, 98; Cat. N. Am. B., 1859, No. 82.— Cooi'KB, Orn.Cal., I, 1870, 

 384.— CoUES, Key, 1872, 194; Check List, 1873.300; B. N.W., 1874, 284.— 

 B. B. & K., Uist. N. Am. B., II, 1874, 530, pi. L, fig. 1. 



The only specimen of this species seen was the one obtained. It was 



engaged in hammering on the trunk of a dead pine tree, near the foot of 



the mountains. 



List of specimens. 



400, ? ad.; pines of the Sierra Nevada, near Garson City, February 19, 1868. 9 J 

 — 15J — 5,^ — 44. Bill, slate-color; iris, burnt-sienna; tarsi and toes, dull slate. 



' Professor Baird has i>roposed for this species the generic or subgeneric term 

 Xctiopicus (Birds N. Am., 1S5S, p. 83), which, in view of certain marked structural 

 difterences from typical Picks, it may iu future be deemed advisable to adopt. 



