548 OKNITHOLOGY. 



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

 City throughout the winter, keeping 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 l)hTck 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. harrisi), except that it is more 

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

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

 they bear some resemblance to the clear, sharp dijjJi 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, S ad.; Carson City, March 10, 1SG8. 9/^—153—5^^—41. Bill, uniform slate- 

 black ; iii.s, (lull eariuino ; tarsi and toes, olivaceous-slate. Tongue protrudes g of an 

 inch beyond the end of the bill ; its corueous tip white. [See under P. harrisi, p. 540.*] 



430, ? ad. (mate of No. 435). g/g^— 15J— 5i— 4f. Same remarks. 



527, i ad.; Carson City, April 25, 1808. 9|—16J— 5/^—41. 



52S, Sad.; Carson City, April 25, 1868. 9^—153—5/^-41%. 



529, ? ad. (mate of No. 528). 8i|— 154—5—4/;.. 



PiCOIDES AECTICUS. 

 Blurk-backed Tliret—toed Woodpecker. 



Picus (ApternvsJ arcticus, SwAiNSON, Fauna Bor. Am., II, 1831, 313, pi. 57. 



Picoides arcticus, Gray, Genera of Birds, II, 184-, 434, pi. 108, fig. 7. — Baikd, B. 

 N. Am., 18.58, 98; Cat. N. Am. B., 1859, No. 82.— Cooper, Orn.Cal., I, 1870, 

 :384.— CoUES, Key, 1872, 194; Check List, 1873,300; B. N.W., 1874, 284.— 

 B. B. & II., Hist. N. Am. B., II, 1874, 530, pi. l, fig. 1. 



The (»nly s})ecimen 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. 



4it9, ? ad.; pines of the Sierra Nevada, near Carsou City, February 19, 1868. 9J 

 — 15J — 5^ — 4^. Bill, slate-color; iris, burnt-sieuna; tarsi and toes, dull slate. 



' Professor Baird has proiiosed for this species the generic or subgeneric term 

 Xenopicus (Birds N. Am., 185S, p. 83), which, in view of certain marked structural 

 ditt'erences from typical Picun, it may iu future be deemed advisable to adopt. 



