508 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



difference from eastern specimens, and this is characteristic of a large area 

 of country, it may he proper to recognize the form hy the name harrisi. 



The P.jariUni a])pears to he nothing more than the most southern race 

 of this dark western form of P. villomfs, and shows the smallest, as well as 

 the darkest, extreme to which the species attains. In Soutliern Mexico 

 typical P. harrini and this form grade insensihly together. The minimum 

 of size and maximum darkness of colors are readied in Costa IJica. 



Habits. This variety was first descrihed hy Mr. Auduhon from si>ecimens 

 ohtained by Mr. Townsend on the Columbia lliver. No information was 

 obtained in regard to its habits, which, it may be presumed, do not vary very 

 essentially from those of the more familiar 2^H'bcscc)is and villosus. In regard 

 to its geographical distribution, it has been found in more or less abundance 

 from Nebraska to the Pacific, and from Mexico to British America. It is 

 known to occur in Texas on the Rio Grande, in New Mexico, in Arizona, 

 Nebraska, California, Oregon, and Washington Territory. 



This indicates a very general distribution throughout Western North 

 America from the eastern slope of the Kocky Mountains to the Pacific, and 

 from New Mexico and Texas probably to the limits of the forests in the 

 northwest. It seems to take the place of the P. vinosus in the far west. Dr. 

 Heermann, in his notes on the birds of California (Journal of Philadeli>hia 

 Academy, II, 270), says it is not a common bird, although it is occasionally 

 met with in that State. Dr. Gambel, however, states that it occupies, on the 

 western coast, the same place that the P. Tillosus does on the Atlantic, but 

 seems to have a greater partiality for the pine woods. Dr. Woodhouse did 

 not meet with it in the expedition to the Zuiii and Colorado. Dr. Newberry 

 speaks of it (U. S. P. li. K Survey, VI, — Zoology, p. 89) as not uncommon 

 in the w-ooded districts of Northern California and Oregon. Dr. Kennerly, 

 in his report on the birds obtained by Lieutenant Whipple's party, states 

 that Harris's Woodpecker was found along the Little Colorado liiver in the 

 month of December, wherever the cottonwood trees grew (U. S. P. R. R. 

 Surs^ey, X, Pt. VI, 21). It is not mentioned by Dr. Heermann in his Report 

 on the birds of Lieutenant Parke's explorations near the 32d parallel. The 

 same writer, in his Report on the birds of Lieutenant Williamson's party, 

 speaks of this bird as having been occasionally observed during the survey, ^ 

 but as a somewhat rare species, though procured in Nortliern California and 

 at Tejon Pass. Dr. Suckley speaks of it as quite abundant at Fort Dalles, 

 wdiere he found it among the true pines, and at Fort Steilacoom, among the 

 firs (2). douglasi), and as a winter resident in both localities (Natural His- 

 tory of Washington Territory, Zoology, p. 159). Dr. Cooper states that 

 Harris's Woodpecker is the most abundant species in Washington Territory, 

 being found on both sides of the Cascade Mountains, frequenting the lower 

 parts of the great coniferous trees. He found it a constant resident in May, 

 burrowing out a nest in a dead tree, sometimes only four feet from the 

 ground. He describes its cries and habits as so exactly like those of the 



