COLAPTES AURATUS, GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. 293 



(Iowa).— Dall & Bans., Tr. Chic. Acad. 1869, 27.5 (Yukon River, Alaska).— 

 Fowler, Am. Nat. iii, 1869, 422 (biography).— Snow, B.Kana. l^iTS, 3.— Allen, 

 Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 1872, 180 (East Kansas).— Hart., Man. Brit. Birds, 1872, 12:i 

 (England).— COUES., Kuy, 1872, 197, fig. 132.— B. B. & R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, .-,7,5, 

 pi. 55, f. 1. 2; and of most autliors. 

 Geopicua auratus, Malh., Mon. Pic. ii, 255, pi. 109, figs. 5, 6, 7. 



The following synonyms refer to specimens intermediate in varying degree between 

 amatua and mexicanua : 



Colaptes ayresii, Add., B. Am. vii, 1843, 348, pi. 494 (Fort Union, Upper Missouri River; 



mostly auraius, but with red moustaches). (Not of Heekm., P. R. R. Rep. x, 



1859, pt. vi, 59, California, which is C. ckriisoidea.) 

 Colaptea hi/bridus, Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 122 (excl. syu. Geopicua chryaoidea, Malh; gives 



ail the stages).— Hayd., Rep. 1862, 156.— Stev., U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr. 1870, 



463.— Skow, B. Kaus. 1873, 3. 

 riciis aurato-mexicamia, Sund., C'ousp. Av. Pic. 1866, 72. 



H«6.— Eastern North America, to the slopes and foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains, 

 where in many localities it becomes mixed with C. mexicanua. Alaska {Ball). Greenland 

 (Beinhardt). Accidental in Europe (Amesbury Park, Wilts, England, one instance; 

 "Maesh, Zool. 1859, p. 6327"; Haht., Brit. Birds, 1872, 123). Breeds throughout its 

 range ; resident from the Middle States southward. I. 



List of apcdmcna from the Warren Expedition. — A, true auratua : 4620, Fort Leaven- _£ ^/ -> 

 worth; 4619, Upper Missouri ; .5221, Fort Lookout; 8ri6S, fifty miles above mouth of^. / 

 Platte River ; 8866-67, Fremont, Platte River ; ti861-62, 8894-65, Loup Fork.— B, aurato^/ d - 

 mexicanua : 5214, Fort Pierre ; 5225, near Fort Pierre ; 5220, 5222-23, Squaw Butte Creek ; „ 

 5215, Powder River; 5211, 5216, Fort Union ; 5224, White Earth River ; 5212-13, SSlT-l'J," u ,■ - 

 Yellowstone River ; 8863, Loup Fork ; 8l;09, fifty miles above mouth of Platte. Of the » , o_ 

 foregoing specimens, not typical auratua, Nos. ,5211-13 have red or orange predomina-" * '' ~ 

 ting on the shafts, and are nearer mexicanua than auratua ; the remainder are yellow-.j'Sy _ 

 shafted, and nearer auratus. Jl 



Later expeditions.— eO'i57 -9 (Wyoming); 60800, North Platte; 61093, Green River (sdlTlO - 

 " hylridna"). '^jl/^ 



Dr. Hayden's numerous examples are prmcipally those that enabled Prof. Baird to,^ ^^ 

 elucidate one of the most remarkable cases in American ornithology — the perfect inter- " 

 gradation of two such distinct species as auratus and imxicanus. This author adopted, 

 without qualification, the hypothesis of hybridization, remarking, in proposing the 

 name the hyhridus : " By the above name I intend to cover a remarkable series of 

 Woodpeckers, from the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone, combining the characteristics 

 of Colaptes auratus and mexicanua, in proportions varying with almost each individual, 

 and leading irresistably to the conclusion that they are the descendants of originals of 

 the species mentioned above, mixed up by interbreeding of successive generations, to 

 a degree unparalleled in the annals of ornithology." He traces the successive steps of 

 departure from the typical auratua into mexicanua, and forcibly illustrates the grada- 

 tions with a comparative tabulation of the varying characters. The first deviation 

 is the appearance of red feathers in the black maxillary patches;* these increase till 

 they prevail, finally to the exclusion of the black, resulting in the wholly red patch of 

 the mexicanua. With this occurs the diminution and final extinction of the scarlet 

 nuchal crescent, where coincidently we find the characteristic golden-yellow ou the 

 wing and tail passing through an intermediate orange into the red of mexicanua, a 

 change accompanied with another aifecting the peculiar lilac-brown of the throat and 

 olive-brown of the back, which become respectively merged into ashen and purplish- 

 gray. 



If there ever were a case of hybridization to an unlimited extent, resulting in fertile 

 offspring, that again and again interbred, this would appear to be one ; and it has been 

 so accepted by the majority of ornithologists without hesitation. But we may well 

 pause before committing ourselves to an hypothesis of hybridization on such an im- 

 mense scale. In the light of late researches upon the question of climatic variation 

 according to inflexible and infallible laws, most of the lesser instances of supposed 

 hybridity have seemed less weighty. The present may be considered a test case — the 

 strongest argument of those who maintain hybridity. 



A slight circumstance may give a clue to the case, and lead up to impartial consid- 

 erations. As stated in the " Key" (p. 198), I am informed by Mr. Allen that Flaridan 

 examples of G. auraius sometimes shon" red touches in the black maxillary patches. 



* These black patches are supposed to be entirely wanting in the female. But Mr. 

 W. D. Scott says (Pr. Best. Soc. Oct. 1872) : "An immature female (sex noted by care- 

 ful dissection) had a dark cheek-patch, differing only from that of the mature male in 

 having giay feathers mixed with the black. lu an adult female the outlines of the 

 cheek-patch can be plainly seen." 



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