252 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



sota," and in the "Birds of New England" it is spoken of as the 

 rarest of all the woodpeckers. Its centre of abundance is evidently 

 farther south, where it is resident. 



West of the Rocky Mountains it has not been observed. It is 

 of shy, retiring habits, frequenting the gloomy depths of the forest, 

 though its dress fits it for appearing in the best society. The 

 feathers are of a peculiar soft and silky texture, and are so regularly 

 barred across with black and white that it is known to many as 

 the Zebra Bird, and is considered the handsomest of all the wood- 

 peckers. 



In Ontario it is migratory, leaving about the end of October. 



GENUS COLAPTES SWAINSON. 

 COLAPTES AURATUS (Lmx.). 



179. Flicker. (412) 



Back, wing coverts and innermost quills, olivaceous-brown, thickly barred 

 with black ; rump, snowy-white ; quills and tail, golden yellow underneath, and 

 shafts of this color. A scarlet nuchal crescent and large black pectoral crescent 

 in both sexes. Male : With black maxillary patches, wanting in the female ; 

 head and nape, ash ; chin, throat and breast, lilac-brown ; under parts, with 

 numerous round black spots ; sides, tinged with creamy-brown ; belly, with 

 yellowish. About 10 inches long ; wing, about 6 ; tail, 4. 



HAB. Northern and Eastern North 'America, west to the eastern slope of 

 the Rocky Mountains and Alaska. Occasional on the Pacific slope, from 

 California northward. Accidental in Europe. 



Nest, a hole in a tree. 



5, five to seven, white. 



Early in April, if the weather is mild, the loud cackling call of the 

 " Higholder" may be heard from his perch at the top of a tall dead 

 limb, where he watches to welcome his comrades as they hourly 

 arrive from the south. For a week or two at this season they are 

 very abundant, but many soon pass on farther north, and the others 

 are distributed over the country, so that they are less frequently seen. 



In habits this species differs considerably from all the other mem- 

 bers of the family. It is more terrestrial, being often observed on the 

 ground demolishing ant hills and devouring the inmates, for which 

 achievement its curved bill and long slimy tongue are admirably 

 adapted. It is also fond of fruit, and of corn, either green or ripe. 



