BREWSTER: BIRDS OF THE CAPE REGION, LOWER CALIFORNIA. 109 
late white ; the under wing coverts, usually profusely mottled and barred with 
biackish, are sometimes nearly plain ; while the outer webs of the outer pair 
of tail feathers, as a rule notched distinctly with yellow, are occasionally plain 
black. The black markings on the under parts vary considerably in number and 
size, some specimens being profusely and heavily, others sparsely and finely, 
spotted. The barring of the upper parts is similarly variable, a few birds hay- 
ing the dark bars nearly obsolete on the back, although they are usually broad 
and distinct. None of my specimens show any red on the occiput or tinge of 
reddish in the yellow of the wings and tail ; nor have any of the males black 
mixed with the red of the moustache. The ends of the wings and tail, as well 
as most of the under parts, are sometimes stained with umber, as in several 
other species of Woodpeckers from this region. 
Seasonal variations : — Specimens in fresh autumn plumage have the general 
coloring a trifle clearer than do spring birds. I am unable to detect any other 
differences which can be associated with season. 
Mr. Belding and Mr. Frazar agree as to the rarity of the Gilded Flicker on 
the higher mountains, where only a few individuals were seen by the former, 
and but two (both females, taken on the Sierra de la Laguna, April 29) 
obtained by the latter. The bird’s true home is evidently at the bases of the 
mountains, and among their foot-hills extending thence to the shores of the 
Pacific on the south and west, to those of the Gulf on the east. Throughout 
this region it is a common species, although not so numerously represented 
as Melanerpes uropygialis. On the arid plains near the coast it breeds in the 
stems of the giant cactus. Mr. Bryant found it “rare on Santa Margarita 
Island,” but it was ‘‘ generally encountered along the overland route.’’? Mr, 
Anthony has said that its “northwestern range” on the Peninsula “is almost, 
if not quite, the same ” as that of M. uropygialis, but soon after making this 
statement he found that the birds which occur in northern Lower California 
differ from those of the Cape Region “in darker upper parts and slightly 
smaller size.” He has accordingly proposed to recognize the former as repre- 
senting a distinct subspecies under the name Colaptes chrysoides brunnescens.? 
This form is said to be confined to northern Lower California, while typical 
chrysotdes occurs not only in the central and southern portions of the Peninsula, 
but in Arizona and northwestern Mexico, also. 
Phalaenoptilus nuttallii nitidus Brews. 
FROSTED PoOR-WILL. 
Phalaenoptilus nuttalli (not Caprimulgus nuttallii AupuBon) BeLpinG, Proc. U. S. 
Nat. Mus., VI. 1888, 349 (Victoria Mts.). 
I have only a pair of these Poor-wills from the Cape Region, both taken on 
the Sierra de la Laguna, the male on June 2, the female on June 6. They 
1 Auk, XII. 1895, 139. 2 Auk, Loc. cit., 347. 
