1906 ] Jenkins, Variation in the Hairy Woodpecker. 161 



heard the song of the Hermit Thrush. Although I had spent my life in the 

 winter home of this bird and its habits were as familiar to me as those of the 

 Mockingbird, I had never heard it utter a sound other than a low, guttural, 

 monosyllabic note expressive of alarm and kindred emotions. I was thus 

 unprepared for the marvelous and elaborate song I heard on that 19th day 

 of March, 1905. It marks an epoch in my ornithological career. Referring 

 to my journal of that date I find the following: "I was out in Lively's 

 woods early Sunday morning, March 19, 1905. Recent rains had damp- 

 ened the woods so that a gloomy aspect pervaded the whole scene. I was 

 standing down the ravine when off in the distance, apparently over in the 

 pasture, I heard the faint notes of what I was sure must be the Wood 

 Thrush; its song being familiar to me in consequence of my late temporary 

 residence in the District of Columbia. I hastened in the direction of the 

 sounds and as I drew near the edge of the woods descried a bird sitting in 

 a small wild plum tree. It seemed annoyed at my intrusion. I stopped 

 to look at it and finding only a Hermit Thrush started on in quest of the 

 singer, when to my surprise the bird settled down upon its perch and com- 

 menced in low notes the sweetest and purest song I have ever heard. A 

 lovelier melody never fell upon more grateful ears. The notes, liquescent 

 and ventriloquial, beginning afar off, approaching slowly and finally burst- 

 ing upon me, are impossible to be described." Mr. Brewster tells me 

 that he has heard them singing in the swamps of Jackson County in 

 early spring. 



VARIATION IN THE HAIRY WOODPECKER (DRYO- 

 BATES VILLOSUS AND SUBSPECIES). 



BY HUBERT O. JENKINS. 



This study was originally intended to be limited to the western 

 forms of the Hairy Woodpecker but later it seemed desirable to 

 include data that had accumulated concerning all of the forms. 



The number of adult specimens of each form examined was as 

 follows: D. v. harrisi, 43; D. v. hyloscopus, 104; D. v. monticola, 

 7; D. v. leucomelas , 9; D. v. villosus, 12, and D. v. auduboni, 3. 

 This includes a large number of intermediates and does not include 

 some 30 immature birds. 



I wish to thank Mr. Joseph Grinnell, Mr. W. K. Fisher, Prof. 



