558 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



breeding near San Antonio, boring for its nest-hole into a mesquite-tree. 

 Mr. Dresser was informed by Dr. Heerniann, who has seen many of their 

 nests, that he never found them in any other tree. 



These birds were found ]>reeding by Dr. Berlandier, and his collection con- 

 tained (juite a number of their eggs. Nothing was found among his papei*s 

 in relation to their liabits or their manner of breeding. Their eggs, procured 

 ])y him, are of an oblong-oval shape, and measure 1.05 inches in length by 

 .85 of an inch in breadth. 



Centurus uropygialis, Baird. 



GILA WOODPECKEB. 



Centurus nropygialis, Batrd, Pr, A. N. Sc. Ph. VII, June, 1854, 120 (Bill Williams 

 River, X. M. — Ib. Birds X. Am. 1858, 111, pi. xxxvi. — Cab. Jour. 1862, 330. — Sun- 

 DEVALL, Consp. 54. — Kennekly, p. K. R. X, I), pi. xxxvi. — Heekmann, X, c, 17. 

 CouEs, Pr. Avi. 1866, 54^8. Arizona). — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 399. Caiturus 

 hii]''i>oUus, (Bp.) PufiiEiiAN, Rev. et Mag. 1853, 163 (not Pkus {Centurus) hypopolius, 

 Wa«»i.er). Zchrapicus kaupii, MALHEPiBE, 1855. — GuAY, Catal. Br. Mex. Centurus 

 suljurciventer, Reichenbach, Handbuch, Picinaj, Oct. 1854, 410, ligs. 4411, 4412. 



Sp. CnAR. Third, fourth, and fifth quills long'est, and about equal. Back, rump, and 

 upper tail-coverls transversely barred with bhick and white, purest on the two latter. 

 Head and neck all round pale dirty -brown, or brownish-ash, darkest above. A small 

 subquadrate patch of red on the middle of the crown, separated I'rom the bill by dirty 

 white. Middle of the abdomen <ramboge-yellow ; under tail-coverts and anal .egion 

 stronglv barred with black. First and second outer taii-feathers banded black and white, 

 as is also the inner web of the inner tail-feather ; the outer web of the latter with a 

 white stripe. Length, about 9.00 ; wing, o.OO. Female with the head uniform brownish- 

 ash, without any red or yellow. 



Had. Lower Colorado River of the West, to Cape St. Lucas. South to Mazatlan. 

 Localities : W. Arizona (Coues, P. A. N. S, 18GG, 54). 



Habits. Tliis species was first discovered by Dr. Kennerly in his route 

 along the 35th parallel, and described by Professor Baird, in 1854 The 

 Doctor encountered it almost continually during the entire march along the 

 Big Sandy, Bill Williams Fork, and the Great Colorado ; but it was so very 

 shy that he had great ditiiculty in procuring specimens. Seated in the top of 

 the tree, it was ever on guard ; and, upon the approach of danger, flew away, 

 accompanying its flight with the utterance of very peculiar notes. Its flight 

 was in an undulating line, like that of other birds of this class. 



Dr. Heerniann found this "Woodpecker abundant on the banks of the 

 Gila Kiver among the mesquite-trees. The giant cactus, often forty feet 

 high, which grows abundantly on the arid hillsides throughout that whole 

 section of country, was frequently found filled with holes bored out by 

 this bird. The pith of the ])lant is extracted until a chamber of suitable 

 size is obtained, when the juice exuding from the wounded surfjice hardens, 

 and forms a smooth dry coating to the cavity, thus making a convenient 



