196 WESTERN SERIES OF READERS. 



inches; tail, 6 inches, wedge-shaped, with pointed feathers 

 tipped conspicuously with white; back and under surface 

 brownish, changing into pinkish on the breast and gray on the 

 head. Abundant in spring, summer, and fall, almost every- 

 where in the West. (See page 15.) 



Burro wing-Owl, or Ground-Owl. Rather small for an 

 owl; length, 10 inches; legs long and bare; plumage, above, 

 dull brown spotted with white, below, whitish barred with 

 brown. Common resident of prairie regions or uncultivated 

 fields. (See page 168.) 



Road-Sinner. Large and pheasant-like; total length, 2 

 feet, of which the long tail takes up 12 inches ; wings short and 

 weak; head with a steel-blue crest; plumage, above, varied 

 with glossy dark blue, brownish and whitish; under parts 

 whitish, with breast narrowly black-streaked ; tail tipped with 

 white. Common resident of the warmer valleys and foothills 

 of the Southwest. (See page 130.) 



Belted Kingfisher. Length, 12 inches; head with a tall 

 crest ; this and the rest of the upper surface slaty gray ; lower 

 parts white, except for a band of slaty blue across the breast ; 

 in the female there is also a belt of rufous brown, which also 

 tinges the sides. Locally resident along streams and sea-coast. 

 (See page 60.) 



California Woodpecker. Length , 9> inches ; steely black, 

 except for white patch on wings, conspicuous in flight; white 

 band on forehead ; yellowish throat-patch ; bright red crown- 

 patch ; white rump ; and white belly. Common resident of 

 oak regions, and of forested country generally. (See page 31.) 



Red-breasted Woodpecker, or Sapsucker. Length, 8% 

 inches ; whole head and breast dull red ; belly pale yellowish ; 



