THE HAIRY WOODPECKER. 



FAini.r PICID^. The Woodpeckers. 

 Sith-Family Picix.e. 



A-lhough all the -woodpeckers have a certain resemblance to each otlier, and 

 agree more or less in habits, there are distinctions among them which sen-e readilv 

 for division into sub-genera, genera, or even higher groups. Thus, the diflfererce 

 between the Ivorj^-billed Woodpecker and the common Flicker, which may be taken 

 as representing the extremes of the scale in North-American species, will be palpable 

 to an}' observer. 



In the woodpeckers inhabiting the Cnited States, there are three distinct groups, 

 wiiich may be tnken, with some authors, as so many sub-families; or if, with Bona- 

 parte, we unite all the Picida: with stitTened, acuminate, and pointed tails into a sub- 

 family Picinoe, they will constitute so many separate sections. They may be severally 

 characterized as follows: — 



I'iciN.E or Picece. —Hm more or less long; the outlines above and below nearlj 

 straight; the ends truncated; a prominent ridge on the side of the mandible, spring- 

 ing from the middle of the base or a little below, and running out either on the 

 commissure, or extending parallel to and a little above it, to the end; sometimes 

 obliterated or confluent with the lateral bevel of the bill; nostrils considerably over- 

 hung by tne lateral ridge, more or less linear, and concealed by thick busliy tufts of 

 feathers at the base of the bill; outer posterior toe generally longer than the anterior. 



MELAXEnriN.E or Centurcce. — B\\\ rather long; the outlines, that of the culmen 

 especially, decidedly curved. The lateral ridge much nearest the culmen, and, 

 though quite distinct at the base, disappearing before coming to the lower edge of 

 the mandible; not overhanging the nostrils, wiiich are broadly oval, rounded an- 

 teriorly, and not concealed by the bristly feathers at the base ; outer pair of toes 

 nearly equal, the anterior rather longer. 



CoLAPTix.E or Col(i2>t€(e. — Bill much depressed, and the upper outline much 

 curved to the acutely pointed (not truncate) tip; the commissure considerablv 

 curved; bill without any ridges; the nostrils broadly oval, and much exposed; 

 anterior outer toe longest. 



PICDS VILLOSUS. — IJnnctus. i 

 The Hairy Woodpecker. 

 Picus villosus, Linnseus. SN-st., I. 175. Bonap. Syn., 4G, and others. 



Description. 



"The Hairy Woodpecker is nine inches long and fifteen in extent; crown 

 black; line over and under the eye white; the eye is placed in a black hne, 

 that widens as it descends to the back; hind head scarlet, sometimes intermixed 

 wi(h black; nostrils hid under remarkably thick, bushy, recumbent hairs, or 

 bristles; under the bill are certain long hairs thrown forward and upward; bill 



1 See p. 84, vol. IX., Pacific R.R. Report*. 



