162 ZOOLOGY. 



uniform dark glossy green. Female with the markings more obscure. Length about 10.75 inches ; extent, 21 ; wing, 6.50. 

 Female smaller. Iris brown, bill black, feet gray. Tongue, when drawn out to its fullest extent, projects 1.50 inch 

 beyond bill. 



Ilab. — Western America from Black bills to Pacific. 



The "collared" woodpecker, called also "Lewis','' in honor of the indefatigable explorer 

 of the northwest, is one of the most beautiful of all the species, and perhaps, of all, the least 

 like a woodpecker in its habits. It is abundant during summer in all the interior districts 

 never approaching the cooler coast, where few of the trees grow which it prefers to inhabit. 

 It arrives at Puget Sound earl_y in May, and some remain during mild winters in the Territorj', 

 though in the veiy cold winter of 1853-54 none remained at Vancouver. It seems to enjoy 

 the hottest weather, and at mid-day maj^ often be seen perched on a dry limb, from which 

 it will sail oft" in pursuit of insects, and return, circling and flapping, to its perch. It also 

 sometimes glides down to the ground after grasshoppers, and searches carefully among the 

 branches and leaves for insects, disdaining to toil for its food like its laborious relatives, at least 

 during summer. In winter it is probably compelled to work, after its favorite autumn food 

 of berries is gone, but at other times it rarely ever raps on the trees. So little do its habits 

 resemble those of the genus, that Nuttall compares the blackish flock of young in fall to the 

 English jackdaw. It, however, burrows holes for its nest, at all heights from the ground, 

 commonly in a dead tree. Its brilliant and soft plumage resembles more that of some tropical 

 bird than the plain woodpeckers which are its companions in this northern climate. As it 

 wheels and flutters slowly around the trees, the brilliant metallic green and rich carmine flash 

 in the sun like the fiery tints of the humming bird. Its flight is always very diflerent from 

 that of other woodpeckers. Besides that above described, it has a travelling flight, which, 

 instead of being a succession of undulating and rapid movements, is rather labored and steady 

 flapping, somewhat like that of the jay. The notes of this bird seem to be few; a harsh call, 

 rarely uttered in summer, when it seeks concealment for itself and nest, is quite unlike any 

 other woodpecker's cry. The flocks of young, which in fall associate together to numbers 

 of eight or ten, are more noisy, though even then quiet compared to the flicker. The 

 Californian woodpecker, as I have seen it in the aiitumn, resembles this bird somewhat in 

 habits, but seems not to feed so much on fruit, and in cries, flight, and habits to resemble 

 much more the common woodpecker. In brilliancy and richness of plumage it however equals 

 but does not surpass this species. — C. 



Lewis' woodpecker is very abundant throughout the more open portions of the timbered 

 region of the northwest coast, preferring oak "openings" and groves. At Port Dalles, on the 

 Columbia, they are extremely numerous, not only breeding there during summer, but also 

 found as winter residents. Their breeding places are generally holes in oak and other trees, 

 which, from the appearances of those I have examined, seem as if they had been excavated for 

 the purpose. The species is also found at Puget Sound, but is much less abundant there than 

 on the Columbia near Fort Dalles. At the latter place they are constant winter residents. 

 They have many habits in common with the various species of their relatives of the genus 

 Colaptes. They seem in winter to be semi-gregarious, flying singly, yet still keeping more or 

 less in each other's company. Their flight at this season is high and very erratic, resembling- 

 much, in its characteristic peculiarities, that of the swallow. On warm days they keep up a 

 lively chattering noise, unlike, in character, that of any other woodpecker that I have heard. 

 During the cold season they are so shy that it is difficult to shoot them, as at the least alarm 



