5G4 NOIITII AMERICAN BIRDS. 



tlio very base of the castorn slo]ie ; and in the last-montionud place was ob- 

 served on a low occasions anionj,' the tall aspens bordering,' the streams in 

 the lower portions of tiie caHons. In its habits it is descril)ed as apjiroacli- 

 in<^ most closely to our common Ited-headed \Voodi)eciver {M. eri/lhroccpha- 

 lus), but possessing,' many very distinctive peculiarities. In the character 

 of its notes it (piitc closely approximates to our common lledhead, but 

 they are weaker and of a more twittering character ; and in its lively play- 

 ful disposition it even exceeds it. It has a very peculiar and characteristic 

 habit of ascendinji; high into the air, and taking a strange, floating ilight, 

 seemingly laborious, as if struggling against the wind, and then descending 

 in broatl circles to the trees. 



The eggs are more spherical than are usually those of the Colapics mirahis, 

 are of a beautiful crystalline whiteness, and measure 1.10 inches iu length 

 and .92 of an inch in breadth. 



Melanerpes orythrocephalus, Swaixson. 



BED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 



Pints crijthroccpliahis, Linn. Syst. Nut. I, 1766, 174. — Vikii.lot, Ois. Am. Sppt. II, 1807, 

 60, pi. c.\ii, cxiii. — WiLSDN, Am. Om. I, 1810, 142, pi. ix, fig. 1. — Waci.kk, Syst. 

 Av. 1827, No. 14. — 111. Isis, 182i>, .IIS (young). — Avn. Oin. Hiog. I, 1832,141; 

 V, 536, 1)1. xxvii. - In. liinls Americii, IV, 1842, 274, pi. cclxxi. —Max. t'ab. ,1. VI, 

 18r>8, 419. Mehiiia-iK.i cnjllimriihahis, Sw. F. B. A. II, 1831, 316. — Bon. List, 

 1838.— In. ConsiHTtiis, IS.-iO, 11.5. — Camuki,, ,T. Ac. Nat. Se. Ph. 2(1 scr. I, 1847, 

 55. — lUnil., Birds N. Am. 1858, 113. —Sci,. Cut. 1862, 340. — Samuel.s, 102.— 

 CoorF.li, Oiii. (\il. I, 1870, J02. — Ai.i.KN, B. E. Flu. 307. Picm obscnnis, Gm. I, 

 178S, 429 (yoww^). — Red-hcadt I Woodpecker, Pennant, Kalm, Latiia.m. While- 

 riiinpid Woodpecker, Lai'IIAM. 



Sp. Char. Iload and neok all round crim.«on-rod, marsrincd by a narrow crosoont of 

 black on the iiiiix'r part of the breast. Back, priniar}' (inills. and tail bhiisli-black. Under 

 parts <jonerally, a bioad band across the middle of the wing, and the rump, white. Tlie 

 female is not din'erent. Lenglh, about 0.75 ; wing, '>.'>(). Bill blui.sh-white, darker ter- 

 Miinally ; iris chestnut; feet olivi'-gray. Young without any red, the head and neck being 

 grayish streaked with dusky; lireast with an .ashy tinge, and streaked .s))arsely with 

 dusky ; secondaries witli two or three bands of black ; dorsal region clouded with grayish. 



IIah. Eastern Province of Unite(l .States to base of Rocky Mountains, sometimes strag- 

 gling westwaid to coast of California ((!a.miiki.). Salt Lake City, Utah (Ridgwav). Other 

 localties: Nueces to Brazos, Texas (Duksskk, Ibis, 1805, 400, breeds). 



Western specimens frequently have the iibdomen strongly tinged with 

 salmon-red, or orange-red, and are generally more deeply colored than 

 eastern. 



Habits. The IJed-headod Woodpecker is one of the most ftimiliar birds 

 of this family, and ranges over a wide extent of territory. Excepting where 

 it has been exterminated by the persccuti(jns of indiscriminate destroyers, it 

 is everywhere a very abundant species. Once common, it is now rarely met 



