102 LIFE HISTORIES OF l^ORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



The average measurement of thirty-four specimens in the United States 

 National Museum collection is 24.20 by 17.19 millimetres, or about 0.95 by 0.68 

 inch. The largest egg of the series measures 25.40 by 17.78 millimetres, or 

 1.00 by 0.70 inch; the smallest, 22.35 by 16.51 millimetres, or 0.88 by 

 0.65 inch. 



The type specimen, No. 19409 (not figured), from a set of five eggs, was 

 taken by the writer near Fort Klamath, Oregon, on June 3, 1883. 



38. Ceophloeus pileatus (Linn^us). 



PILEATED WOODPECKEE. 



Pious pileatus Linn^us, Systema Naturse, ed. 10, I, 1758, 113. 

 C[eophlceus] pileatus Gabanis, Journal flir Oruitliologie, 1862, 176, 

 (B 90, 294, R 371, C 432, U 405.) 



Geographical range: More or less Irregularly distributed through the heavier 

 wooded districts of North America, excepting Newfoundland, Labrador, the shores of 

 Hudson Bay, and those portions of the Northwest Territory, in tlie Dominion of Ganada, 

 north of latitude 63°. In the United States, apparently absent or very rare in the south- 

 ern Rocky Mountains, and in the Territory of Alaska. Rare or extirpated in the more 

 thickly settled parts of the eastern United States. 



The Pileated Woodpecker, also known in different sections as "Cock of 

 the Woods," "Logcock," "Woodcock," "Black Log" or "Black Woodcock," 

 "Johnny Cock," "Wood-hen," "Woodchuck," and, according to Mr. B. F. Gault, 

 by the peculiar name of "Good-Gods" in southeastern Missouri, is generally 

 resident and breeds wherever found, although in winter it may sometimes rove 

 about more or less, according to the food supply. Throughout most of our 

 Eastern States, north of latitude 39°, the Pileated Woodpecker is now some- 

 what rare, and here it is mainly confined to the heavily timbered bottom lands 

 along the larger streams and the more thinly settled sections in the mountain 

 regions, where in a few favorable localities it is still met with in small numbers. 



In quite a number of our Southern States, however, it is far more common, 

 and in suitable localities it may be called fairly abundant. This is especially the 

 case throughout the greater part of Florida, as well as in portions of South 

 Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, southern Missouri, 

 the Indian Territory, and the greater part of Texas It is by no means rare in 

 portions of the other Southern States, as it is well known to occur throughout 

 North Carolina, generally below an altitude of 4,500 feet, and I have occasion- 

 ally seen bunches of these birds, numbering from four tci twelve, exposed for 

 sale in the markets of Washington, D. C, which had been killed in some of 

 the neighboring counties in Virginia, where this large and handsome Wood- 

 pecker appears to be considered as a game bird. I tried to eat one, wlien 

 short of meat, while traveling through the Blue Mountains of Oregon, but I 

 certainly can not recommend it. It feeds to a great extent on the large black 

 wood ants, which impart to it a very peculiar, and to me an extremely unpleasant 



