560 



NORTH AMERICAN J5IRDS. 



fibres are disconnected on tlieir terminal portion, enlarged and stiffened, 

 almost bristle-like; otherwise the clsaracters are much as in Mclanerpcs. It 



Melanrrpes erylhrocephnlus. 



shoiUd, liowever, be noted, that the feathei-s of the red portion of the head in 

 the other species have tlie same texture. 



Species and Varieties. 



A* Spxcs similar. Ynvrtrj vnry dillerent from the adult. 



M. torquatUB. Feathi'r.s of tin; lower parts, as well a.s of frontal, lateral, 

 and under portions of the liead, with the fibres bristle-like. (Asyndesnum, 

 CorES.) Upper parts wholly uniform, cnntiniious, very metallic blacki.th- 

 grcen. Adult. Forehead, lores, cheeks, and chin deep crimson, of a hurnt- 

 carmino tint; juf^ulum, breast, and a ring entirely around the nape, grayish- 

 while ; alxlonien light carmine. Rack glo.ssed with purplish-bronze. Young 

 without the red of the head, and lacking the grayish nuchal collar ; abdomen 

 only tinged with rcil, no puriile or bronze tints above. Wing, 0.70 ; tail, 

 4.00. Ilah. Western Province of the United States, from the Rlack Hills 

 to the Pacific. 



M. erytbrocephalus. Feathers generally soO, blended ; those of the whole 

 head and neck with stiffened and bristli^-like (ibres in the adult. Secondaries, 

 rump, and upper tail-coverts, with whole lower parts from the; neck, con- 

 tinuous pure white. Two lateral tail-feathers tipped with white. Adult. 

 Wiiole head and neck bright venous-crimson or blood-red, with a black 

 convex posterior border across the jugulum ; liack, wings, and tail glossy 

 blue-black. Vniiiif/. Head and neck grayish, streaked with dusky ; back 

 and scapulars graj'i.«h, spotted with black ; secondaries with two or three 

 bliick bands; breast tinged with grayish, and with sparse dusky streaks. 

 Wing, r-i.m ; tail, '^30. Huh. Eastern Province of the United States, west 

 to the Rocky Jfountains. 



B< Sexes dissimilar ; young like the adult. 



M. formicivoruB. Forehea<l and .a broad crescent acrc^s the middle of the 

 throat (the two areas connected by a narrow strip acro.ss the lore), white, 

 more or less tinged witli sulphur-yellow. Rump, upper tail-covert.s, ab- 



