PICID.K — THE WOUDPECKEKS. 527 



Dr. Newbeny only met with this bird iimoiiy tiiu Cascade Mountains, in 

 Oregon, where lie ilid not find it common. 



Mr. J. (j. 13ell, wlio lir.st discovered this species, in tlie vicinity of Sutter's 

 Mills, in (Jalilbrnia, on the Anuu'ican Uiver, represents it as treipientiiif,' the 

 hi},dicr branches of the pines, keejiiiig almost out of gunsiu)t range. Active 

 and restless in its movements, it uttered at rare intervals a sharp and clear 

 note, while busily pursuing its search for food. 



Mr. John K. Lord states that tlie only place in which he saw this veiy 

 i-are bird was in the open timbered country about tlie C'olville Valley and 

 Spokau River. He htas observed that this Wootlpecker almost invarial)ly 

 haunts woods of the PinHn pondcfuHH, and never retires into tiie thick damp 

 forest. It arrives in small numbers at L'olville, in April, and disapi)ears 

 again in October and November, or as soon as the snow liegins to fall. Al- 

 though he did not succeed in obtaining its eggs, he saw a pair nesting in tlie 

 month of May in a hole bored in the branch of a very tall i)ine-tree. It 

 seldom flies far, but darts I'rom tree to tree with a short jerking flight, and 

 always, while flying, utters a sharp, clear, chirping cry. Mr. Kidgway found 

 it to be common in the pine forests of the Sierm Nevada, in the region of 

 the Donner Lake Pass. It was fii'st observed in July, at an altitude of about 

 five thousand feet, on the western slope of that range, where it was seen play- 

 ing about the tops of the tallest dead jiines. On various occasions, at all sea- 

 sons, it was afterwards found to be quite plentiful on the eastern slope, in the 

 neighboriiood of Carson City, Nevada. Its habits and manners are described 

 as much like those of the P. harrisi, but it is of a livelier and more restless 

 disposition. Its notes have some resemblance to those of that species, but 

 are of a more rattling character. It is easily recognized, when seen, by its 

 strikingly peculiar plumage. 



