434 THE RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. 
female: like male but duller. Young birds are said to be “gray with dull reddish 
suffusion as if the head had been dipped in claret wine.” Length, ete., as in 
preceding. 
Recognition Marks.—Chewink size; bright crimson of head, “shoulders” 
and fore-breast distinctive; yellow underparts. Brighter than succeeding. 
Nesting.—Nest and Eggs as in S. r. notkensis. 
General Range.—Northern Lower California, the Pacific Coast States and 
British Columbia, save in northwestern portion where displaced by succeeding 
form; retires from northern portion of range in winter. 
Range in Washington.—Summer resident and migrant chiefly along the 
eastern slopes of the Cascades, shading into succeeding form west of the divide. 
Authorities.—[ Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. (1814) Ed. Biddle: Coues, Vol. 
II. p. 185.] Bendire, Auk, Vol. V. July, 1888, p. 230. T. D'. 
Specimens.—U. of W. 
IT is all very well for the economic ornithologist to tell us that Sap- 
suckers are somewhat injurious to orchard trees, but the sight of one of 
these splendid creatures. dropping with a low cry to the base of a tree and 
hitching coquettishly up ‘ts length, is enough to disarm all resentment. 
From what spilled chalice of old Burgundy has the bird been sipping? 
Or from what baptism of biood has he lately escaped that he should be 
dyed red for half his length? Recrudescent mythology, ill at ease in these 
commercial times, nevertheless casts furtive glances at him, and longs to 
account in its inimitable way for the telltale color. 
For myself, if young fruit trees will lure such beauty from the woods, 
I will turn orchardist. Nor will I begrudge the early sap from my choicest 
pippins. I am fond of cider myself, but there are worthier. Drink, pretty 
creature, drink! 
Well, of course, there are biographical details; but what of it? Have 
you not yourself been so smitten with beauty that you forgot to inquire 
pedigree? Tut, now; you do not even remember a single sentence she said 
that day. But you remember her. Enough! 
Once when the bird-man was camping on the Snoqualmie trail, this 
crimson vision appeared at the edge of a clearing, and proceeded to inspect 
our plant approvingly; and while the bird-man’s heart was in his mouth, it 
lit on the tent-post and gave it two or three inquiring raps. What need of 
details! 
