THE LEWIS WOODPECKER. 441 
the western forest, but to whose authorship I have no clew unless it pro- 
ceeds from this bird. The note comes from well up in the trees, and is 
repeated slowly, after little intervals, and with a sort of funereal solemnity. 
If I venture to literate it, the letters are to be thought rather than said,— 
or better still, thought while whistled in a low key (si) poolk(ng) - - - 
(si)poolk(ng) - - (si)poolk(ng). Who will “riddle me this mystery’ ? 
‘The Pileated Woodpecker chisels out its nesting hole at any height in 
dead timber, whether of fir, pine, spruce, or other. It nests regularly in this 
State, but the taking of its eggs is something of a feat; so, in default of much- 
coveted “luck,” we fall back on Bendire*: “From three to five eggs are 
usually laid to a set, but I have seen it stated that the Pileated Woodpecker 
often laid six, and that a nest found near Farmville, Virginia, contained eight. 
An egg is deposited daily, and incubation begins occasionally before the set is 
completed, and lasts about eighteen days, both sexes assisting in the duty, as 
well as in caring for the young. Like all Woodpeckers the Pileated are very 
devoted parents, and the young follow them for some weeks after leaving 
the nest, until fully capable of caring for themselves. Only one brood is raised 
in a season. The eggs of the Pileated Woodpecker are pure china-white in 
color, mostly ovate in shape; the shell is exceedingly fine-grained and very 
glossy, as if enameled.” 
No. 176. 
LEWIS’S WOODPECKER. 
A. O. U. No. 408. Asyndesmus lewisi Riley. 
Synonym.—BrLaAck WOooDPECKER. 
Description.—4 dults: Above shining black with a greenish bronzy luster; 
“face,” including extreme forehead, space about eye, cheeks, and chin, rich 
crimson; a collar around neck continuous with breast hoary ash; this ashy mingled 
intimately with carmine, or carmine-lake, on remaining underparts, save flanks, 
thighs and crissum, which are black; feathers of nape and underparts black and 
compact at base but finely dissected on colored portion of tips, each barb length- 
ened and bristly in character. Bill and feet black; iris brown. Young birds lack 
the crimson mask and hoary collar; the underparts are gray mingléd with dusky 
below, with skirtings of red in increasing abundance according to age. Length of 
adult: 10.00-11.00 (254-279.4); wing 6.75 (171.5); tail 4.50 (114.3); bill 1.20 
(30.5). 
Recognition Marks.—Robin size; shining black above, hoary collar and 
breast ; red mingled with hoary ash on underparts distinctive. 
a. Life Histories of N. A. Birds, Vol. II., p. 107. 
