PICID^ — THE WOODrECKEKS. r)09 



larger 8a}).sucker (P. I'il/o.'^us) of the Atlantic States, that, were there not 

 constant and unchangeable ditlerences in plumage, it wuuhl be taken tbr 

 the same species. He furnishes no dcscriiition of the eggs, but it is (piite 

 probable that there is no appreciable difference between them and those of 

 the PivHs lillosius. 



Dr. Cones mentions this species as one of the most c<unmon and characteristic 

 birds in the vicinity of Fort \Vhip])le. Dr. Heermann speaks of its having char 

 trumpet-like notes that betray its locality and render it an easy bird to shoot. 



In California Dr. Cooper found this chieHy a northern bird, fre(pienting 

 the forests of all kinds up to the summits of tlie Sierra Nevada, and also 

 resident as far south as Santa Barbara, descending, in winter, to the eastern 

 branches of the Colorado and to Tejon Pass. He found it more common 

 in the higher Coast Kange near Santa Cruz, and still more so toward the 

 Columbia Kiver. Its cry, he adds, is louder than that of most of the small 

 Woodpeckers, and it is rather shy, especially when it imagines itself pur- 

 sued. It feeds at times on fruits and berries, and sometimes it visits gardens. 

 It is known as one of the " Sapsuckers," but does more good than harm in 

 the orchard, destroying both insects and their larva?. 



Mr. John K. Lord states that this Woodpecker is by far the most abundant 

 species in the district through which his party passed. He found it on Van- 

 couver's Island, and along the entire course of the boundary-line, south through 

 Oregon and ('alifornia, and north to Fort Simpson. A few remained at Colvilie 

 during the winter, but the greater number retired to the coast and returned in 

 April and May. In the latter month they mate, and bore out a hole in a dead 

 tree. They use no lining for the nest, but lay the eggs on the bare wood. Their 

 favorite haunts are the stumps of trees growing round swamps or prairie-land. 



Tliis Woodpecker was met with by Mr. Ridgway in all wooded portions 

 of the Great Basin, but was most abundant among the pines on the moun- 

 tains. In aU respects, it is a perfect counterpart of the F. i^Ulosus of the 

 east. 



Ficus pubescens, Linn. 



DOWNT WOODFECKEB; LESSEE SAFSUCKEB. 



Picus puhesccns, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 15. — Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 65, pi. 

 cxxi. — Wilson, Am. Orii. I, 1808, 153, pi. ix. — Waglkr, Syst. Avium, 1827, Xo. 

 23. — AUD. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 81 ; V, 539, pi. cxii. — Iii. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 249, 

 pi. cclxiii. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 89. — Sundevall, Mon. Pic. 17. — Malb. 

 Mon. Pic. I, 119, pi. xxix. — Cassix, Pr. 1863, 20. — ScL. Cat. 1862, 334. — Gray, 

 Cat. 1868, 44. — Dall & Banxisteii, Tr. Chicago Ac. I, 1869, 274 (Alaska). — Fixscir, 

 Abh. Nat. Ill, 1872, 60 (Alaska). — Samuels, 89. — Allex, B. E. Fla. 304. Pirns 

 (Dnidrocopics) pubtscens, Sw. F. B. A. II, 1831, 307. Picus {Trichopicus) pubesceiis, 

 BoxAP. Cousp. Zyg. Ateueo Italiano, 1854, 8. i Picus mcdianu^, Sw. F. B. A. II, 1831, 

 308. Picus mcridioiuilis, Sw. F. B. A. II, IS 31, 308 (small southern race). Picus 

 leconti, Jones, Ann. N. Y. Lye IV, 1848, 489, pi. xviii (Georgia; three-toed speci- 

 men, tiret toe wanting. Type of Tridactylia, Bp.) Dryobates pubescois, Cab. & Hein. 

 Mus. Hein. 1863, 63. 



