WOODPECKERS. 331 



Among the White Mountains, they may be seen not only in 

 the woods, where removed from civilization, but also not un- 

 frequeutly along the roadsides. 



d. Their ordinary note is an indescribable whine, like a 

 puppy's moan, though Mr. Maynard thought that their alarm- 

 note closely resembled that of the Blue Jay. But many of 

 our Woodpeckers delight in a music peculiarly their own, yet 

 not unlike the drumming of the Ruffed Grouse. In spring, 

 alighting on some tree, particularly one which is somewhat 

 hollow and resonant, they rap loudly. The male and female 

 often do this in response to one another, and it is, almost 

 undoubtedly, a love-note. It is the only music which our 

 Woodpeckers can produce, and it is for them by far the 

 easiest way of expressing their affections. 



Sphyrapicus varius nuchalis, so-called, the Red-naped or 

 Red-throated Woodpecker, is probably an abnormal form, or 

 a distinct species, or else its occurrence in New England must 

 be quite accidental. The last is probably the case, as it is 

 said that only two specimens have been taken in this part of 

 the country, and nuchalis may be treated as a western race. 

 It differs from true varius in having a red patch on the 

 hind-head or nape, and more or less red on the throat of the 

 female. Yet, in Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway's " North 

 American Birds," it is stated that of the true varius a female 

 from Washington, D. C., has red on the throat, and a male 

 from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, has it on the nape.* The habits 

 and notes of the Red-naped Woodpeckers are described as 

 similar to those of the Yellow-bellied kind, and the biograph- 

 ical details of one (except as regards migrations and distri- 

 bution) are applicable to the other. 



* Occasional eastern specimens of other essentials, and are now generally 



the Yellow-bellied Woodpecker show regarded as mere aberrant examples 



a band of red on the nape, and the fe- of true varius. Hence the Red-naped 



males sometimes have red on the Woodpecker is no longer included 



throat ; but although in these respects in the list of New England birds. 



they more or less closely resemble the W. B. 

 western form nuchalis, they differ in 



