i9'2 



SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — PICABIJE — PIGIF0BME8. 



Analysis of Species. 



Red moustaches in ^f ; no red on nape in cf $ ; wings and tail orange-red underneath ; cap lilac-brown ; 



throat ashy ; no yellow on belly ; back iimber-brown (Western) mexicanus 459 



{IVILxed in every degree with) 

 Black moustaches in (f ; red nuchal crescent in ^f ; wings and tail golden-yellow underneath; cap ashy; 



throat lilac-brown ; yellow on belly ; back olive-brown (Eastern) auratus 457 



(Not mixed with) 

 Red moustaches in tf ; no red on nape in j- 9 ; wings and tail golden-yellow underneath; cap lilac-brown ; 

 throat ashy ; yellow on belly; back umber-brown (Southwestern) chryso'ides 458 





Fig, 345. — Golden-winged Woodpecker, ^ nat. size. (From Brelim. ) 



Obs. It will be noted, how curiously these species are distinguished mainly hy a different 

 combination of common characters. — Colaptes ayresi AuD., C. lnjbridiis Baird, C. avrato- 

 mexicanus Sundevall, is a form fi-om the Missouri and Rocky Mt. regions in which the charac- 

 ters of mexicanus and auratus are blended in every conceivable degree in different specimens. 

 Perhaps it is a hybrid, and perhaps it is a transitional form, and doubtless there are no such 

 things as species in Nature. Eastern specimens of auratus sometimes show red touches in the 

 black maxillary patch, as is frequently the case with Kansas examples. In the West, you 



