PICID.E — THE WOODPECKERS. r,23 



Dr. Cooper states that this Woodpecker is (piite abundant towards the 

 coast of California, and amoni' the foothills west of the Sierra Nevada. It 

 freipients the oaks and the smaller trees almost exclusively, avoiding the 

 coniferous forests. It is very industrious, and not easily frightened, when 

 enga,i,^ed in hammering; on the hark of trees allowing a very near approaeli. 

 At other times, wlien pursued, it becomes more wary and suspicious. Ajuil 

 20, 1862, Dr. Cooper discovered a nest of this bird near San Diego. It was 

 in a rotten stump, and was only about four feet from the ground. He cap- 

 tured the female on her nest, which contained five eggs of a pure pearly 

 whiteness. 



These birds are said to remain tlirougliout the year in the valleys, and to 

 migrate very little, if at all. Dr. Cooper has not observed it west of the 

 Coast Range, except near Santa Barbara, nor has he seen any around gardens 

 or orchards. Xone have been observed north or east of the State. East of 

 the mountains it is replaced by the scalaris. 



Mr. Xantus mentions finding a nest containing two eggs in a hole iu the 

 Ccreus f/i(/anteus, ahoiit iihGk^n feet from the ground. The excavation made 

 by the bird was about a foot and a half deep and six inclies wide. 



This Woodpecker Mr. liidgway saw only in the Sacramento Valley, where, 

 in June, it appeared to be a common species among the oaks of the plains. 

 He did not learn anvthinjr of its habits, but describes its notes as verv 

 peculiar, tlie usual one being a prolonged (|uerulous rattling call, unlike 

 that of any other bird known to him. 



Subgenus PHRENOPICUS, Bonap. 



Phrcnojncus, Bonap. Consp. Vol. Zygod. Ateneo Ital. 1854. (Type, Piciis borcalis, Vieill.) 

 Phrcnopipo, Cab. & Hein. Mus. Ilein. 18(53, 70. Same type. 



This subgenus is closely related in external form to the preceding, differ- 

 ing in rather longer and more pointed wings and tail, the latter especially, 

 and a very small, sliort bill. The first quill (excluding the s[)urious one) is 

 considerably longer than the sixth, not shorter. The tail-feathers are nnich 

 attenuated at end. Tlie most marked differences in coloration of the tyj)e 

 species, P. hormlis, consists in the absence of the post-ocular black patch, 

 leaving the whole auricular region white, and in the restriction of the red 

 to a very narrow line on each side, usually concealed. 



Some authors place Picus strUUaadi of Mexico {Phrcnopipo or Xtjlocopuii 

 sfricJclandi, Cab. and Hein.) in this section, to which it may indeed belong as 

 far as the wing is concerned, but the markings are entirely different. 



