TiSO 



NORTH AMKKICAN lUUDS. 



lu'iid. Tlu' l);K'k is stioii<'lv ''losscil witli iviMisli-lnowii, and the black 

 transverse ])ars are much nmre distinct, closer and l>rua(U'r, three t>r tour on 

 each fcatlier, instead of t\v«» only. The rump and u|ij>er lail-c(;verts are 

 closely harred, the centre of the former only clearer white, hut even here 

 each feather has a cordjite si)ot of white. Tiie s|K)t.s on the thinks posteriorly 

 exhibit a tentlency to l)ecom'j transverse bars. 



Specimens from Mount ()rizal>a, Mexico, are very similar to tho.se from 

 Orej;on in coh>r, ja'csentinj^ no api)recial>le ditlerence. The size is, however, 

 nnu'h less, a male measuring' 1 (».")(!, win;^' G.tMl, tail 4.t)n inche.s, instead of 

 12.7."), G.7.">, and r».2."i respectively. AVhile, however, the feet are smaller 

 (tarsus l.UO instead of 1.1.")), tiie l)ill is fully as large, or even larger. 



Most young birds of this si)ecies have a tinge of red on top of the head, 

 and frLMpiently a decided nuchi 1 cresceiit of red; but these are only embry- 

 onic features, and disap])ear with maturity. 



Haijii's. This species, the counterpart in so many respects of the Golden- 

 winged Woodpecker, appears to take the place of that species from the slopes 

 of tlie IJockv Mountains to the I'acitic, throu^'hout western North Anujrica. 

 Dr. Wooilhouse speaks of finding it abundant along the banks of the ll'io 

 Grande. And in the fine collection beh>nging to the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion are specimens from the Straits of Fuca, Fort Steilacoom, and Fort Van- 

 couver, in Washington Territory, from the Columbia lliver, from various 

 l)oints in California, New ^lexico, Arizona, Utah, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, 

 Mexico, etc. Dr. (Jambel, in his raj)er on the birds of California, first met 

 with the lied-shafted Woodpecker soon after leaving New Mexico, and it 

 continued to California, where he found it very abundant. He describes it 

 as a remarkaldy shy bird, and adds that he alwavs saw it on the marijins of 

 small creeks, where nothing grew larger than a willow-bush. Dr. Heerniann 

 also found it abundant in California. Dr. Newberry, in his lie]>ort on the 

 zoology of Lieutenant Williamson's expetlition, .«.j)eaks of the Hed-shafted 

 I'licker as mthera common bird in all parts of California and Oregon which 

 his ])arty visited. He describes many of its habits as identical with those of 

 the Golden Flicker (C. auratus), but regards it as much the shyer bird. Dr. 

 Cooper also mentions the fact of the great abundance of this bird along the 

 western coast, equalling that of its closely allied cousin on the eastern side 

 of the Mississip])i. It also resembles, he adds, that l)ird so exactlv in 

 haliits and notes that the description of one will ai)ply with exactness to the 

 other. It is a constant resident in Washington Territory, or at least west 

 of the Cascade ^lountains. He observed it already burrowing out holes 

 for its nests in April, at the Straits of Fuca. About June 1 he found a 

 nest containing seven young, nearly Hedged, which already showed in the 

 male the distinguishing red mustache. Dr. Suckley, in. the same report, 

 also says that it is extremely conmion in the timbered districts of Washing- 

 ton Territory, and adds that its habits, voice, calls, etc., are precisely similar 

 to those of the Yellow-Hammer of the Eastern States. Mr. Nuttall, as 



