282 PICUS PUBESCENS, DOWNY WOODPECKER. 



opicus. Great as the variation of size is in this species, the minimum does not appear 

 to inosculate with the maximum of pubescens. There is a constant gap between full- 

 grown birds of about an inch (P. gairdneri being usually between seven and eight 

 inches) ; and, besides, the white tail-feathers of villosua, as against the barred ones of 

 puhescens, are perfectly distinctive. 



In the Missouri region, P. villosus proper is the prevailing type; only 

 mixing with or shading into the var. harrisii among the mountains. 

 The birds are very abiindimt in the timbered bottoms along the Mis- 

 souri, as at Fort Randall and elsewhere. My Randall examples are 

 pure villosus, of rather large size, averaging 9^ or 9^- long, 16 or 17 in 

 extent, the wing 4^ or 5. One was shot that had apparently broken its 

 leg, and the union at a considerable angle threw the foot outward ; not- 

 withstanding this, the bird was scrambling as actively as any one could. 

 This species is very noticeable among the few birds that endure the 

 rigor of winter on the Upper iMissouri, apparently without the slightest 

 inconvenience. On entering the crackling, dry weed-patches of the bot- 

 tom, at such times the ear is often saluted with the shrill, startling 

 " quank'''' of the active bird, unseen in the low covert until, disturbed at 

 its meal in the snug retreat, it takes a long, swift swing up into the 

 nearest tree, or disappears in festoons further into the under-wood. 



\ 



^PICUS PUBESCENS, Linn. >- '., 

 Downy Woodpecker. 



a. pubescens. 



Pious puhescens, Ldjn., Syst. Nat. i, 1766, 175 (P. varius minimus, Gates,, 21; P. varius 

 vinjinianus minor, Bmss., Orn. iv, 50). — Gm., i, 1788, 435. — Lath., Ind. Orn. i, 

 1790, 232.— ViEiLL., Ois. Am. Sept. ii, 1807, 65, pi. 121.— WiLS., Am. Orn. i, 1808, 

 153, pi. 9, f. 4.— Steph., Gen. Zool. ix, 170.— Vieili.., Eucy. iii, 1311 ; Nouv. 

 Diet, xxvi, 82.— Bp.. Syn. 1828, 46.— Less., Tr. Orn. 1831, 228.— Nutt., Man. i, 

 1832, 576.— AuD., Orn. BioR. ii, 1834, 81 ; v, 1839, 539; pi. 112; Syn. 1639, 180; 

 B. Am. iv, 249, pi. 263.— Bp., List, 1838, 39.— Gray, Gen. of B. ii, 435.— Bp., 

 Consp. i, 1850, 138.— Eeich., Hand-buch Sp. Orn. 374, pi. 038, fig. 4255-57.— Bd., 

 B. N. a. 1858, 89.— Cass., Pr. Phila. Acad. 1863, 201.— JIalh., Mon. Pic. i, 119, 

 pi. 29, f. 8, ,9, 10.— SUND., Consp. Av. Pic. 1866, 17.— Gray, Hand-list, ii, 1670, 

 184, No. 8590 (excl. syn. auduboni, Sw.).— Dall & Baxn., Tr. Chic. Acad, i, 1869, 

 274.— Sxow, B. Kans. 1873, 3.— Hayd., Eep. 1882, 155.— Allex, -Bull. M. C. Z. 

 ii, 1871, 304 ; iii, 1872, 180.— FrascH, Abb. Nat. iii, 1872, 60 (Alaska).— ConES, 

 Key, 1872,194, fig. 131.— Hart., Man. Br. Birds, 1872, 122 (England).— B. B. & 

 E., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 509, pL 49, f. 6, 7 ; and of authors generally. 



Picus (Dendrocopus) pubescens, Sw., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 307. 



Trichopicus pubescens, Bp., Consp. Vol. Zygod. Ateneo Ital. 1854, 8. 



Xrioliopipo piibescens, Cab. & Heixe, "Mus. Berol." 



Dryobates pubescens, Cab. & Heixe., Mus. Hein. iv, 1863, 62. 



Picus (^Dendrocopus) medianus, Sw., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 308 (New .Jersey). 



Picus medianus, Nutt., Man. ii, 1834, 601. — Gray, Gen. of B. ii, 435. — Br., Consp. i, 1850, 

 138.— Reich., Hand-buch Sp. Orn. 375.— Malh., Mon. Pic. i, 122.— Gk.v.y, Hand- 

 list, ii, 1870, 184, No. 8594. 



Trichopicus medianus, Bp., Consp. Vol. Zygod. 1854, 8. 



Picus {Dendrocopus) meridionalis, Sw., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 303 (Georgia). 



Picus meridionalis, Gray, Gen. of B. ii, 435. — Bp., Consp. i, 1850, 138.— Reich., Hand- 

 bach Sp. Orn. 375.— Malh., Mon. Pic. i, 124. — Gray, Hand-list, ii, 184, No. 8505. 



Trichopicus meridionalis, Bp., Consp. Vol. Zygod. Ateneo Ital. 1854, 8. 



Picus leconiei, Jones, Ann. Lye. N. Y. iv, 1848, 489, pi. 17 (malformed specimen, lacking 

 hallux). 



Tridactylia (!) lecontei, Bp., Consp. Zygod. 1854, 8 (made type of a genus!) 



Picoides (!) lecontei, Malh., Mon. Pic. i, 182, pi. 40, f. 7. 



b. gairdneri. 



Picus gairdneri., AuD., Orn. Biog. v, 1839, 317; Syn. 1839, 180; B. Am. iv, 1842, 252. 



Reich., Hand-buch Sp. Orn. 375.^Malh., Mon. Pic. i, 123. — Be, B. N. A. 18,58 

 91, pi. 85, fig. 2, 3.— Heer.-ii., P. R. R. Rep. x, pt. vi, 57.— Coop. & Suck. N h' 

 Wash. Ter. 1860, 159.— C.\ss., Pr. Phila. Acad. 1863, 201.— Lord, Pr. Roy. Artv 



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