NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



on a few chips at the bottom of the cavity, the depth of which is about 

 fifteen inches. It is the only Woodpecker to which the term "Sap- 

 sucker" can with any propriety be appHed. It lacks the long extensile 

 tongue which enables the other woodpeckers to probe the winding gal- 

 leries of wood eating larvae, and it is known to feed largely upon the green 

 inner bark of trees. 



Hab. The typical form in Eastern North America north to CI"; south to Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, Ba- 

 hamas. Var. 5. V. michalis, from the Rocky Mountain region and Great Basin. Var. 5. v. ruber, Pacific 

 coast region of United States. 



369«. Red-naped Woodpecker — sphyrapicus varius nuchalis. This 

 is an abundant species of the Rocky Mountain region of the United 

 States. In Bull. Nutt. Club, Oct., 1881, pp. 206-207, Dr. Merrill 

 says it seems to be one of the rarest of the family in Montana. A nest 

 found June 12 was a cavity in a dead young cottonwood tree about forty 

 feet in height. The hole was twenty-five feet from the ground, and near 

 the top of the same tree were three similar holes, probably used by the 

 same birds in previous years. The entrance was rather large for the size 

 of the birds. Five eggs were taken from the bottom of the cavity, which 

 was about ten inches deep. These measure .91 by. 72, .90 by. 73, .93 

 by .71. -93 by. 73, -91 by .73. 



370. Black-breasted Woodpecker — sphyrapicus thyroideus. As 

 these pages are going into type, I receive from Colorado descriptions of 

 two sets of eggs of this species, and, as far as I can judge, they appear to 

 be authentic specimens. There is not, I believe, a published account of 

 the eggs, and they have not thus far been taken, except in the cases 

 which I shall now cite ; and, if future eggs of this Woodpecker prove to 

 be similar to these, the characteristics will be remarkable, and the spec- 

 imens simply unique for eggs belonging to birds of this family. Mr. Fred. 

 M. Dille, of Greeley, Colorado, has furnished me the following: "In the 

 latter part of June, 1885, set number one was taken. It consisted of six 

 eggs; in size they were somewhat less than those of M. erytlirocepJialus, 

 Red-headed Woodpecker, and rather more elongated, very thin-shelled 

 and delicate. They were irregularly spotted with brown spots, the exact 

 facsimile of fly-specks; the spots varying in size and somewhat in shade, 

 but all are perfectly round. They readily washed off and left the shell 

 perfectly whit^e. Set number two was taken about the first of July; these 

 were considerably incubated, and the spots were blurred, and in some 

 places entirely rubbed off." Mr. Dille says he cannot give the measure- 

 ments and the exact dates, as the sets are now in the hands of Mr. Frank 

 H. Lattin, and further says: "I think there is not a shadow of doubt 



