BIRDS OF 



tail black, one or two outer feathers white barred; inner web of central 

 feathers white with black spots, outer web of same black with a white space 

 next the shaft for most of its length ; white predominating on the rump. 

 Length, 9-10 ; wing, about 5 ; tail, about 3^. 



HAB. Eastern United States, to the Rocky Mountains ; rare or 

 accidental east of the Hudson River. 



Nest, a hole in a tree. 

 Eggs, 4 to 6 ; white. 



This handsome species is gradually becoming more common 

 in Southern Ontario, and like some others, such as the Lark, 

 Finch, Orchard Oriole and Rough-winged Swallow, it evidently 

 makes its entrance to the province round the west end of Lake 

 Erie, for it has become quite common near London and farther 

 west, while I have found it only twice near Hamilton. 



It is rather retiring in its habits, raising its young in the 

 solitude of the woods, and seldom coming near the farm house. 

 It is possible a few may remain over the winter, for I had a fine 

 male sent down from near London in March of the present 

 year (1886), while the weather was still quite cold and no 

 spring birds had arrived. 



GENUS COLAPTES SWAINSON. 

 169. COLAPTES AURATUS (LiNN.). 412. 



Flicker. 



Back, wing-coverts and innermost quills olivaceous-brown thickly 

 barred with black. Rump snowy-white. Quills and tail golden-yellow 

 underneath, and shafts of this color. A scarlet nuchal crescent and large 

 black pectoral crescent in both sexes ; male with black maxillary patches, 

 wanting in the female, head and nape ash ; chin, throat and breast lilac- 

 brown ; under-parts with numerous round black spots ; sides tinged with 

 creamy-brown; belly with yellowish. About 10 inches long ; wing, about 6 ; 

 tail, 4 . 



HAB. Northern and Eastern North America, west to the eastern slope 

 of the Rocky Mountains and Alaska. Occasional on the Pacific slope,, from 

 California northward. Accidental in Europe, 



Nest., a hole in a tree. 

 Eggs, 5 to 7 ; white, 



170 



