116 



U. S. p. E. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENEEAL REPOET. 



This species differs in one respect from any other of our North American woodpeckers in the 

 peculiar character of the feathers of the under surface. The fibres of the feathers are longer 

 than usual, and remarkably stiff. Those on the terminal third of eacli feather are of the usual 

 character at the base, or provided with fibrillae, those of opposite sides interlocking as in feathers 

 generally. The terminal portion, however, of the stem of the fibre is much enlarged, and ex- 

 panded laterally to twice or more the diameter at the root, and converted into quite a stiff 

 bristle, nearly smooth, or with very slight indications in 'places of the fibrillae. It is this por- 

 tion of the feather that is colored. 



In addition to the characters given in the above diagnosis it may be stated that the narrow 

 collar around the lower neck is composed of hoary white feathers of the same texture as those 

 on the belly. On the sides of the neck and throat a black suffusion separates the crimson from 

 the hoary. This is seldom as pure as on the nape, appearing as if soiled with brownish. On 

 the upper part of the belly the bright blood red is confined to the central bristly fibres of each 

 feather, the lateral ones being of a roseate hoary, and imparting the streaked character referred 

 to ; posteriorly the red predominates. The anal region, the under tail coverts, the tibia, and 

 the sides of body and under surface of the wing are pure greenish black. The red and hoary 

 are, therefore, entirely superficial when the wing is closed. 



In one specimen there is an occasional feather on the back of a viol«t tinge. One specimen 

 (6144) has the red of the belly of an orange red shade, this varying, in fact, to a considerable 

 degree with different specimens. 



A young specimen (5619) lacks the hoary collar entirely, and the red around the bill is 

 replaced by black. The under parts are dirty grayish, obscurely blotched with greenish brown. 

 There are scattered indications of red. 



