PICID/E — THE WOODPECKERS. 513 



Sp. Char. Similnr to pnhenmis in size ami markings, but with less wliito on llu> wings. 

 Varies IVoni ontire absence of'exposcil wliite spots on tiie middle and greater wing-coverts 

 and inneiiiKist secondaries, with small spots on the quills, to spots on mo;it of their 

 feathers, but absent on some, and the spots generally larger. 



Hah. Pacific coast of United States to Jloeky Mountains. Darkest and with least 

 ivhite in Western Oregon and Washington. 



In tlio preceding article we have given the comparative characters of this 

 form, which we can only con,si(ler as a variety, and not very permanent or 

 strongly marked at that. 



As in pnbcsreiis, this race varies much in the color of the under parts, 

 w'liich are sometimes pure white, sometimes smoky-brown. It is suggested 

 that this is partly due to a soiling derived from iuhahiting charred trees. 

 It is, at any rate, of no specific value. 



Habits. Gairdnci's Woodpecker is the western representative and coun- 

 terpart of the Downy Woodpecker of the east, resembling it in size and 

 general haliits, and only differing from it in certain exceptional character- 

 istics €already mentioned. It is found throughout western North America, 

 probably from Mexico to the British Possessions, and from the eastern bnse 

 of the Itocky ^lountains to the Pacific. 



Dr. Cooper met with it in California, chiefly in the northern parts of the 

 State, but did not observe any south of the Santa Clara Valley. Dr. Coues 

 saw none in Arizona, or possibly a single specimen not positively ascer- 

 tained. 



Dr. Cooper found one of its nests near Santa Clara, on the 24th of May, 

 containing young. It had been burrowed in a small and partly rotten tree, 

 and was about five feet from the ground. From the fact that they were 

 found breeding so far south he infers that among the mountains they prob- 

 ably occur nmch farther to the south, as do most other northern birds. He 

 found them frequenting chiefly the smaller trees in tlie vicinity of the ever- 

 green woods, where they were to be seen at all seasons industriously tapping 

 the bark to obtain insects. 



Dr. Newberry mentions finding them very common in Oregon, and also 

 in Northern California. In Washington Territory, Dr. Suckley found them 

 extremely common on the Lower Columbia, especially among the willow- 

 trees lining its banks. They were resident throughout the winter, and in these 

 situations were very abundant. In January, 1856, he found them so abun- 

 dant among the willows growing on the islands in the delta of the Willa- 

 mette, that he readily obtained eight .specimens in the space of an hour. At 

 that season they were very unwary, giving little heed to the presence of man, 

 not even allowing the near discharge of a gun to interfere with their busy 

 search for food. 



Dr. Heermann speaks of it as neither common nor especially rare. He 

 obtained several specimens among the mountains of Northern California. 



Mr. Lord met with these Woodpeckers abundantly in the Northwestern 



vol.. II. ()5 



