56 MR. GAMBEL ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 



107. M. TORQUATUS, (Wils.) Bonap. Lewis's Woodpecker. 



In the before mentioned belt of oaks, this remarkable and handsome species was 

 abundant. Its manners are peculiar, and unlike the generality of Woodpeckers ; 

 darting out from the trees after passing insects like a flycatcher, and alighting on the 

 branches again crossways. It has the same peculiar habit that I have often observed 

 in the Red-headed species, when shot at and perhaps hit ; that of ascending in short, 

 rapid gyrations like a hawk, to a considerable height in the air, and then descending 

 in the same manner. 



108. M. FORMTCivoRUS, Swaius. Ant-eating Woodpecker. 



Picus melanopogen, Licht. Temm. PL Col. 451. 

 This beautiful species, common in Mexico, was first added to our Fauna by 

 Nuttall, who states in his Manual of Ornithology, vol. 1, p. 662, that he observed it 

 to be a common species in the mountain forests around Santa Barbara, in Upper 

 California. Between the same region and the Pueblo de los Angeles, I also found it 

 common, but had little opportunity of studying its habits. 



109. M. RUBER, (Lath.) Bonap. Red-breasted Woodpecker. 

 An abundant inhabitant of the wooded regions of California. 



COLAPTES, Swains. 



110. C. coLLARis, Vig. Red-shafted Woodpecker. 



We first saw this handsome, and remarkably shy bird, soon after leaving New 

 Mexico, and it continued with us to California, where it is very abundant. 



I have often wondered how so large a woodpecker as this, can live among small 

 bushes, particularly as it has none of the flycatcher habits of the Red-headed, and 

 other species of the genus melanerpes. We always saw it on the margins of small 

 creeks, where nothing grew larger than a willow bush, and oftener than otherwise 

 on the ground. In California it is found both in bushy places, and in the woods. Its 

 note is a loud sharp he ah, which is constantly uttered. 



{^To he continued.) 



