558 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



breeding near San Antonio, lioriny for its nest-hole into a niesqiiite-tree. 

 Mr. iJresser was inibrnied by Dr. Hcerniann, who has seen many of their 

 nests, tliat he never fonnd them in any otlier tree. 



These birds were found breeding by Dr. Berlandier, and his collection con- 

 tained (juite a niunber of their eggs. Notiiing M'as found among his papers 

 in relation to their liabits or their manner of In-eeding. Their eggs, procured 

 by him, are of an oblong-oval shape, and measure 1.05 inches in lengtli by 

 .85 of an inch in breadth. 



Centurus uropygialis, Baird. 



QILA WOODFECKEB. 



Ccnluriis uropygialis, Baird, Pr. A. N. Sc. Ph. VII, June, 1854, 120 (Bill AVilliams 

 River, N. iM. — 1b. Birds N. Am. 1858, 111, pi. xxxvi. — Caii. Jour. 1882, 330. — Su.v- 

 DEVALL, Consp. 54. — KF.NNiiiUiY, P. R. R. X, li, pi. x.xxvi. — Heku.mann, X, c, 17. 

 CouEs, Pr. Avi. 1866, 54 (S. Avizonn). — Cool'EU, Oni. Cal. I, 1870, 399. Ccnlurus 

 hypopoUus, (Bp.) Pucueisan, Rov. et Mag. 1853, 163 (not I'icus (Centurus) hypopolius, 

 Waoi.eu). Zchrapicus kaupii, AlALUEimE, 1855. — Guay, Catal. Br. Mex. Centurus 

 sul/urciventer, Reichenbaoi, Haiulbuch, Picium, Oct. 1854, 410, iigs. 4411, 4412. 



Sp. Char. Thirrl, fourth, and fifth qnills lonirost, and aliont equal. Back, rump, and 

 upper tail-coverts transvcrsidy barred with black and white, purest on the two latter. 

 Head and neck all roinid pale dirty-brown, or brownish-ash, darkest above. A small 

 subquadrate patch of red on the niiddh! of the crown, separated from the bill by dirty 

 white. Middle of the abdomen f,'amboge-yellow ; under tail-coverts and anal .cgion 

 strongly barred with black. First and second outer tail-feathers banded black and white, 

 as is also the inner wel) of the inner tail-feather ; the outer web of the latter with a 

 white stripe. Length, about 9.00; wing, T) i"). Female with the head uniform brownish- 

 ash, without any red or yellow. 



IIab. Lower Colorado Rivei' of the West, to Cape St. Lucas. South to Mazatlan. 

 Localities : AV. Arizona (Coues, P. A. N. S, 1800, 54). 



Habits. Tliis species was first discovered by Dr. Kennerly in his route 

 along the 35th parallel, and descrilied by Professor Baird, in 1854. Tlie 

 Doctor encountered it almost continually during the entire march along the 

 Big Sandy, lUll Williams Fork, and the Great Colorado; but it was so very 

 shy that he had great ditticulty in procuring specimens. Seated in the top of 

 the tree, it was ever on guard ; and, ui)on the approach of danger, flew away, 

 accompanying its flight with the utterance of very peculiar notes. Its flight 

 was in an undulating line, like tluit of other birds of this class. 



Dr. Heermann found tiiis Woodpecker abundant on the banks of the 

 Gila River among the mesquite-trees. The giant cactus, often forty feet 

 high, which grows abundantly on tlie arid Iiillsides throughout that wliole 

 section of country, M'as frequently found filled with holes bored out by 

 this bird. The pith of tlie jjlant is extracted until a cliamber of suitable 

 size is obtained, when the juice exuding from the wounded surface h.ardens, 

 and forms a smooth dry coating to the cavity, thus making a convenient 



