nofi 



NoUTH AMKKK'AN BIKDS. 



Mr. lli(l<^\vay saw a single individual of this species in the outskirts of 

 Salt Uikv City, in July, 18GI). 



Their t'«:,<:s vary both in size and in sliape, from a spherical to an oblong- 

 oval, the latter l)eing the more usual. Their length varies tror.i 1.10 to 1.15 

 inches, and their breadth from .80 to .lU) of an inch. 



Melanerpes formicivorus, var. formicivorus, Bonap. 



CALIFOBHIA WOODPECXEB. 



Picus foiinicirurus, Swainson, Birds Mex. in Philos. Mag. I, 1827, 439 (Mt'xiro). — Vi(;oRs, 

 Zuul. Blossom, 18o9, 26 (Muiitrny^. — NlTTALi., Man. 1, 2d ed. 1840. Mihinerpes 

 fonnicivoriia, Br. lonsportixs, 18.'»0, 11;'). — Hhkumann, J. A. N. Sc. Phil. 2d series, 

 II, 18r)3, 270. — Cassis, Illust. I!, 18:.3. 11, |)1. ii. — Nkwbkuuy, Zool. Cal. A: Oregon 

 Koutf, yo, P. K. K. Surv. VI, 18r.7. - Baii:i», Birds N. Am. 1868, 114. — SiMi- 

 tuiiAsT, Mem. Bust. i^oc. I, 18t)r», Jjt^J (eorreeting an error of Saussure). — (."assin, Pr. 

 A. N. S. 63, 328. - Hkkkmann, P. B. K. X, r»8 O't'^^ting). — Baikd, Kej*. M. Bonnd. 

 II, Birds, 6. — S( LAri-.K, Pr. Z. S. 1858, 305 (Oaxaea). — In. Ibis, 137 (Honduras).— 

 Cab. Jour. 1862, 322 (Costa Rica). —Corns, Pr. A. N. S. 1866, 55. — Coopkk, Om. 

 Cal. I, 1^70, 403. J'icus melanopoffon, Temminck, PI. Color. IV, (1829 .') pi. ccccli. 

 — Wagli-u, Isis, 1829, v, 515. — 8isi>i:vall, Consp. 51, 



Sp. Ciiaf?. Fourth (niill lon<rc'!«t. third a little shorter. Al>ove and on tho anterior half 

 of the boily, glossy bluish or greenish Mack : the top of the head a' d a short oecipital 



crest red. A white patch on the fore- 

 head, connecting with a broad cresccn- 

 tic collar on the upper part of the neck 

 by a narrow isthmus, white tinged with 

 sulplnu'-yellow. Belly, rump. ba.<?es of 

 primarii'S, and inner edges of the outer 

 quills, white. Tail-feathers uniform 

 black. Female with the red conlincd 

 to the occipital crest, the rest rej^laced 

 by greenish-black ; the three patches 

 white, black, and red, very sharply de- 

 fmed, and about equal. Length about 

 9.50 ; wing, 6.00 ; tail, .3.75. 



IIab. Pacific Coast region of the 

 United ^>tates and south ; in Northern 

 Mexico, eastward almost to the Gulf 

 of Mexico ; also on the Upper R\o 

 Grande ; south to Costa Kica. Locali- 

 ties : Oaxaca (Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, 305) ; 

 Cordova (Scl. 185G, 307) ; Guatemala (Sci.. Ibis, I, 137) ; Honduras (Scl. Cat. 341) ; 

 Costa Rica (Cab. J. 1862, 322) ; W. Arizona (Coues, P. A. N. S. 1866, 55). 



In most specimens one or two re«l feathers may be detected in the black 

 of the breast just behind the sulphur-yellow crescent. Tlie white of the 

 breast is streaked with black ; the posterior portion of the black of the 

 breast and anterior belly streaked with white. The white of the wing only 

 shows externally as a patch at the base of the primaries. 



Mtlanerpfs /ortnicivorus. 



