PICID^E — THE WOODl'ECKEUS. 509 



larger Sapsucker (P. vil/osus) of the Atlantic States, that, wore tliere not 

 constant and unchangeable dillerenees in plumage, it would be taken for 

 the same species. He furnishes no description of the eggs, but it is cpiite 

 probable that tliere is no appreciable difference between them and those of 

 the I'ivus viUuHiis. 



Dr. Cones mentions this species as one of the most common and characteristic 

 birds in the vicinity of Fort Whipjjle. Dr. lleermann speaks of its having clear 

 trumpet-like notes that betray its locality and render it an easy bird toslioot. 



In California Dr. Cooper found this chiefly a northern bird, frequenting 

 the forests of all kinds up to the summits of the Sierra Nevada, and also 

 resident as far south as Santa Barbara, descending, in winter, to the eastern 

 branches of the Colorado and to Tejon Pass. He found it more common 

 in the higher Coast liange near Santa Ouz, and still more so toward the 

 Columbia IJiver. Its cry, he adds, is louder than that of most of the small 

 Woodpeckers, and it is rather shy, especially when it imagines itself pur- 

 sued. It feeds at times on fruits and berries, and sometimes it visits gardens. 

 It is known as one of the " Sapsuckers," but does more good than harm in 

 the orchard, destroying both insects and their larva;. 



Mr. John K. Lord states that this Woodpecker is by far the most abundant 

 species in the district through which his party passed. He found it on Van- 

 couver's Island, and along the entire course of the boundary-line, south through 

 Oregon and California, and north to Fort Simpson. A lew remained at Colville 

 during the winter, but the greater number retired to the coast and returned in 

 April and ]May. In the latter month they mate, and bore out a hole in a dead 

 tree. They use no lining for the nest, but lay the eggs on the bare wood. Their 

 favorite haunts are the stumps of trees growing round swamps or prairie-land. 



Tliis Woodpecker was met with by Mr. Eidgway in all wooded portions 

 of the Great 1' isin, but was most abundant among the pines on the moun- 

 tains. In all respects, it is a perfect counterpart of the P. nillusus of the 

 east. 



Ficus pubescens, Linn. 



DOWNT WOODPECKER; LESSER SAF8VCKER. 



Piciis pubescens, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 17G6, 1.5. — Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 65, \A. 

 cxxi. — Wn,.so.N, Am. Orii. I, 1808, 153, pi. i.\. — Waci.ku, Sy.st. Avium, IS'27, Xo. 

 23. — AUD. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 81 ; V, 539, pi. cxii. — lu. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 249, 

 pi. cclxiii. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 89. — Sundevall, Mon. Pif. 17. -Mai.u. 

 Mon. Pic. I, 119, pi. xxix. — Ca.s.sin, Pr. 18G3, 20. — Sul. Cat. 1802, 334. — Gray, 

 Cat. 1868, 44. — Dali,& Banxisiki!, Tr. Chicago Ac. I, 1869, 274 (Alaska). — FiNscii, 

 Abh. Nat. Ill, 1872, 60 (Alaska). — Samuels, 89. —Allen, B. E. Fla. 304. Picas 

 {JifiidrocopiM) pttbtsceiis, Sw. F. B. A. II, 1831, 307. Piciis (Trichopicas) pubesceiui, 

 BoNAi". Coiisp. Zyg. AtciR'o Italiauo, 1854, 8. 1 Picas medianus, Sw. F. B. A. II, 1831, 

 308. Picus meridionulis, Sw. F. B. A. II, 1S31, 308 (small southcni race). Piciis 

 Icconti, .Tones, Ann. N. Y. Lye. IV, 1848, 489, pi. xviii (Georgia ; thrcc-toed .speci- 

 men, first toe wanting. 'Sy\}a oi Tridactylia, Br.) Dryobatcs pubescens, Cab. & Hein. 

 Mus. Hein. 1863, 63. 



