NO. 1847. THE LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS— OBERHOLSER. 143 



of Cassin,» from Jalapa, Vera Cruz, the type of wliich we have seen, 

 is also a synonym of Dryohates scalaris scalaris. Malherbe's Picus 

 scalaris var. d'orizaha,^ commonly cited under D. s. scalaris, is merely 

 a vernacular designation, and has therefore no real standing in 

 nomenclature. 



Twelve specimens of this form have been examined, from the fol- 

 lowing locaHties in Mexico: 



San Luis Potosi. — ^Valles. 



Tamaulipas. — Alta Mira; Tampico. 



Vera Cruz. — Carrizal; Jico; Mirador; Orizaba. 



DRYOBATES SCALARIS RIDGWAYI, 3 new subspecies. 



Chars, suhsj). — Similar to Dryohates scalans scalaris, but much 

 smaller; and the black bars (of scalaris) on basal part of exterior web 

 of outermost long rectrix averaging smaller and reduced to spots, 

 sometimes absent. 



Description. — Type, adult male, No. 187546, U.S.N.M., Biological 

 Survey collection; Jaltipan, Vera Cruz, Mexico, February 3, 1904; 

 E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Crown and nape black, the 

 feathers of the former subterminally brownish white, terminally 

 poppy red, this producing a mottled effect on the top of the head, 

 but merging into a solid band of red on the occiput and anterior 

 hind neck; rest of upper body surface black, all, except the superior 

 tail-coverts, barred with dull wliite — these white bars decidedly wider 

 than the black interspaces; tail black, the three exterior pairs of 

 feathers, includmg the dwarfed outermost one, much barred with 

 bro\vnish white except on basal portion of inner web of second and 

 third, the black interspaces reduced to spots on basal portion of the 

 external web of the outermost long rectrix (the second) ; the fourth 

 pair of rectrices barred distally with bro^\^lish white; wings black, 

 much spotted with white, this forming, on tertials, fairly well-defined 

 bars; sides of head and neck light smoky brownish, the superciliary 

 stripe somewhat paler; a postocular and a malar stripe of black, 

 which meet on the side of the neck, the malar stripe, however, obso- 

 lete anteriorly; nasal tufts and whole lower surface smoky brown, 

 paler posteriorly; sides of breast and body with small spots of black; 

 flanks and crissum with bars of the same; lining of wing white, with 

 spots of black. 



Measurements. — Male:^ Wing, 88-92.5 (average, 90.8) mm.; tail, 

 45-50.5 (47.8); exposed culmen, 18.5-20.5 (19.1); tarsus, 16-17.5 

 (16.6); middle toe, 11.5-12 (11.8). 



' Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1863, p. 196. 



«Mon. Picidees, vol. 3, 1861, pi. 27, fig. 6. 



' Named for Mr. Robert Ridgway, as a slight token of appreciation oi many and various courtesies. 



* Four specimens, from the State of Vera Cruz, Mexico. 



