PICTD^E THE WOODPECKERS. 383 



tonishing manner. Very useful, indeed, must this bird be in pre- 

 serving our primeval forests from the ravages of insects. Whether 

 one notes his strong, undulating flight, his elastic bounding and 

 springing along the trunks of the trees, the eifective chiseling of his 

 powerful bill, or his sonorous cackling, one is particularly impressed 

 with the spirit and immense energy of the bird." (LANGILLE.) 



GENUS MELANERPES SWATNSON. 

 SUBGENUS Melanerpes. 



Melanerpes SWAINS. F. B.-A. ii. 1831, 316. Type. Pious erythrocephalus LINN. 



Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Linn.) 



BED-HEADED WOODPECKER 



Picus erythrocephalus LINK. S. N. ed.12,1, 1766, 174. WILS. Am. Orn.i, 1808, 142, pi. 9, 

 fig. 1. NUTT. Man. i, 1832, 569. AUD. Orn. Biog. i, 1832, 141, pL 27; Synop. 1839. 184; 

 B. Am. iv, 1842, 274, pi. 271. 



Melanerpes erythrocephalus SWAINS. P. B.-A. ii, 1831, 316. BAIBD, B. N. Am. 1858. 113; 

 Cat N. Am. B. 1859. No. 94. CouES.Key, 1872. 196; Check List. 1874. No. 309; 2d ed. 

 1882, No. 453; B. N. W. 1874. 290. B. B. & R. Hist N. Am. B. ii, 1874, 564, pL 54, fig. 4. 

 EIDQW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, 375. 



HAB. Eastern United States and British Provinces, west to eastern base of Bocky 

 Mountains, south to Florida and Texas; breeds throughout; irregularly or locally mi- 

 gratory. Bare in most parts of New England. 



SP. CHAE. Adult. Entire head, neck, and jugulum uniform rich crimson, bordered 

 below against white of breast, by a more or less distinct black line. Secondaries, rump, 

 upper tail-coverts, and lower parts white, the abdomen usually more or less tinged with 

 reddish. Back and scapulars glossy blue-black; wings, except secondaries, and tail 

 deep black. Bill bluish white, darkening into plumbeous terminally; iris brown (vary- 

 ing from umber to chestnut); feet greenish gray. Young. Head, neck, and jugulum 

 brownish gray, streaked with dusky. Back mixed black and grayish; secondaries with 

 one or more black bands near ends. 



Total length (fresh specimens). 9.25-9.75; extent. 17.00-17.75; wing, (skins), 5.30-^.70; 

 tail, 3.60-3.75. 



This splendid Woodpecker, to which belongs the honor of having 

 been the first bird to excite the latent enthusiasm of Alexander 

 Wilson, and determine him to be an ornithologist, is found through- 

 out tha State. In the more heavily wooded portions it is decidedly 

 the most numerous member of the family. As a rule, it is, in the 

 vicinity of Mount Carmel at least, and presumably in similar 

 localities throughout the southern portion of the State, not only a 

 permanent resident but is even more abundant in winter than in 

 summer. Sometimes (probably very rarely), however, it makes a 

 complete migration which is very difficult to account for. 



