NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 89 



about either set, as the birds were shot, and identification perfect." Again 

 he says: "The eggs are indistinguishable from those of S. va,rms, only 

 that they are very sparingly and irregularly spotted." Mr. Gordon D. 

 Pearce, of Estes Park, Colorado, also vouches lor the same statements, 

 he having taken a hand in collecting the specimens, and the sets now in 

 Mr. Lattin's possession are in his name. They were collected in Larimer 

 county, and found in cavities of trees about twenty feet from the ground. 

 The trees were in remote places, and were dead, or partially so. The 

 eggs were laid on the bare floor of the cavities. We cannot, however, 

 consider the "spots" genuine shell-markings if they will " riib off" by 

 simply washing the specimens in water. 



Hab. Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, chiefly in the pine belt— one of the characteristic species, like 

 Clark's Crow, Steller's Jay, etc. 



371. Pileated Woodpecker; Logcock — hylotomus pileatus. Glis- 

 tening white; the complement ranges from three to six in number, and 

 are very small in comparison with the size of the bird ; the average size 

 being about 1.25 by i. This large, wild and wary Woodpecker is a com- 

 mon resident in the timbered regions of North America at large. The 

 nest is an excavation dug out by the bird, usually in the main trunk of a 

 high tree situated in secluded woods or swamps. It becomes scarce with 

 the clearing away of forests. Often erroneously called " Woodcock" in- 

 stead of Logcock. 



372. Red-bellied Woodpecker — centurus carolinus. White; the 

 number laid ranges from four to six, and the average size i. by .87. The 

 Red-bellied Woodpecker, known to many as the "Zebra Bird," is very 

 retiring in its habits, selecting the deepest and most unfrequented forests 

 to breed. Its utterance is hoarse, resembling the syllables cJioiv, choiv. 

 The nesting place is excavated in the dead limb or trunk of a high tree. 

 A common resident in Ohio. 



Hab. Eastern United States, somewhat southerly; rarely north to New England; west to the Rocky 

 Mountains; Texas; common southerly, where it is resident, less so northerly where it is migrant. 



373. Golden-fronted Woodpecker — centurus aurifrons. The Yel- 

 low-fronted Woodpecker is found in Texas and southward, and is a very 

 abundant species in suitable localities on the Lower Rio Grande ; in many 

 places it is more numerous than P. scalaris. Its habits and mode of nest- 

 ing do not differ from those of other woodpeckers of the same size. In 

 places where there is only low chaparral, telegraph poles are completely 

 riddled by this bird. The eggs are usually four in number, sometimes 

 five and six; size about 1.03 by .^G. 



