THE LEWIS WOODPECKER. 441 



tile western forest, hut tn wliuse aiiihurshi]) I lia\e nu I'lew unless it ])ro- 

 ceeds from this l)inl. The note comes fn>ni well ii]) in the trees, and is 

 repeated sk)wly, after little intervals, and with ;i sort of funereal solemnity. 

 If I venture to literate it, the letters are to he thought rather than said, — 

 or better still, thought while whistled in a low key (si) pooIk(tigl - - - 

 (si)poolk(ug) - - (si)poolk{ luj ). Who will "riddle nie this ni\ster\"? 



The Pileated Woodpecker chisels out its nesting hole at an\ height in 

 dead timber, whether of fir, ])ine, s])ruce, or other. It nests regularK- in this 

 State, but the taking of its eggs is something of a feat ; so, in default of much- 

 coveted "htck," we fall hack on Bendire" : 'i'"nim three to five eggs are 

 usuallv laid to a set, but I ha\e seen it stated that the Pileated Woodpecker 

 often laid six, and that a nest found near Farmville, \'irginia, contained eight. 

 An egg is deposited daily, and incubation licgins occasionally before the set is 

 comi)leled, and lasts about eighteen days. l)olh sexes assisting in the duty, as 

 well as in caring for the young. Like all W oodpeckers the Pileated are very 

 devoted parents, and the }H)ung follow them for some weeks after leaving 

 the nest, imtil full\- 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 shajie : the shell is exceedingly fine-grained and \ery 

 glossv. as it enameled." 



No. 176. 



LEWIS'S WOODPECKER. 



-\. O. U. No. 408. Asyndesmu.s lew isi Rdex-. 



Synonym. — IjL.ack Woodimxk i;i(. 



Description. — Adults: .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 underi)arts. save flanks, 

 thighs and crissum, which are black; feathers of nape and unclerparts black and 

 compact at base but finely dissected on colorcfl jiortion of tips, each barb length- 

 ened and bristly in character. P.ill and feet black; iris brown, young birds lack 

 the crimson mask and hoary collar; the underparts are grav»mingled 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. 31; tail 4.50 1114.3); hill 1.20 

 (30.5)- 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size; shining black above, hoary collar aiul 

 breast ; red mingled with hoary ash on underparts distinctive. 



Life Histories of N. A. Birds, Vol. II., p. 107. 



