5G4 



NORTH AMKRK'AN BIRDS. 



the very base of tlic eastern sloj^e ; aiul in the last-mentioned place was ob- 

 served on a few occasions anionic' tlie tall as])ens horderini; the streams in 

 the lower jmrtions of the canons. In its hal»its it is descril)ed as approach- 

 ing most closely to our common Ited-headed Wood])ecker (J/, crytliroccplia' 

 Ins), but i)ossessini; many very distinctive peculiarities. In the character 

 of its notes it (piite closely approximates to our common Redhead, but 

 they are weaker and of a more twittering character ; and in its lively play- 

 ful disposition it even exceeds it. It has a very peculiar and characteristic 

 habit of ascending hii'h into the air, and taking a strange, Heating Hinht, 

 seemingly laborious, as if struggling against the wind, and then descending 

 in broad circles to the trees. 



The eggs are more spherical than are usually those of the Cotaptcs av.rafns, 

 are of a beautiful crystalline whiteness, and measure 1.10 inches in length 

 and .92 of an inch in breadth. 



Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Swainsox. 



BED-HEAOEO WOODFECKEB. 



Picus criithrcccphaJm, Lixx. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 174. — Vikillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 

 60, pi. cxii, cxiii. — Wilson, Am. Om. I, 1810, 142, pi. ix, li<,'. 1. — W.VfU.Kn, Syst. 

 Av. 1827, No. 14. — li{. Isis, 1821», r>18 (young). — Arn. Oni. liiog. I, 1832, 141 ; 

 V, 536, ])1. xxvii. — In. Birds America, IV, 1842, 274, pi. cilxxi. — Max. Cab. J. VI, 

 1858, 419. MehrncriKS criithroeci>hahis, S\v. F. B. A. II, 1831, 316. — BoS. List, 

 1838.— lu. Consptrtus, 1850, 115. — (Jambel, J. Ac Nat. So. Ph. 2(1 ser. 1, 1847, 

 55. — lUniit, Birds N. Am. 1858, 113. —Scl. Cat. 1862, 340. — Samfel-s 102.— 

 CooPEii, Oni. Cal. I, 1870, 402. — Allen, B. E. Fla. 307. P.Vus obscurus, Gm. I, 

 1788, 429 (young). — U>d-hmd>:d]Vocljh:ckci\ Pennant, Kalm, Latham. Uliitc- 

 ruiiip*:d WoodjKckcr, Latuam. 



Sp. CnAR. TIoa<l and neck all round crim.«:on-rod. margined by a narrow crescent of 

 black on the upper part of the breast. Back, primary (piills. and tail bluish-black. Under 

 parts generally, a brt)ad ban<l across the middle of the wing, and the rumj), white. The 

 female is not diiVerent. Length, about 9.7.") : wing, o.oO. Bill bluish-white, <larker ter- 

 minally ; iris chestnut; feet olive-gray. Young without any red, the head and neck being 

 grayish streaked with «lusky ; breast with an ashy tinge, and streaked sparsely with 

 dusky ; secondaries with two or three bands of black ; dorsal region clouded with grayish. 



Hab. Eastern Province of United Stati's to l)ase of Rocky Mountains, sometimes strag- 

 gling westward to coast of California ((tamp.el). Salt Lake City, Utah (Ridgway). Other 

 localties: Nueces to Brazos, Texas (Dresser, Ibis, 18G5, 4G0, breeds). 



Western specimens frequently have the abdomen strongly tinged with 

 salmon-red, or orange-red, and are generally more deeply colored than 

 eastern. 



Habits. The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of the most familiar birds 

 of this family, and mnges over a wide extent of territory. Excepting where 

 it has been exterminated by the persecutions of indiscriminate destroyers, it 

 is everywhere a very abundant species. Once common, it is now rarely met 



