220 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



dark hole it may find on the prairie farms. The eggs are five or six 

 in number; when fresh and before blowing, like those of all Wood- 

 peckers, show the yolk through the translucent shell, which gives them 

 a beautiful pinkish appearance. After blowing they are of a clear, 

 glossy-white. The average size is .99 x .78. 



407. Melanerpes formicivorus bairdi Ridgw. [377.] 



Californian Woodpeclcer, 



Hab. Northern Mexico and Northern Lower California; Western Texas to California, north along the 

 Pacific coast to British Columbia. 



This handsome Woodpecker is common along the Pacific coast 

 region, as in California, Oregon and in Washington Territory. It is 

 said that this species in California has the habit of digging small 

 holes in the trunks of trees, in which it stores acorns for its winter 

 food. Mr. W. H. Henshaw met with it in the Rocky Mountain region 

 of New Mexico, near Santa Fe, where it frequented the small oak 

 groves. Mr. W. E. D. Scott states that this bird is a common resident 

 of the Pinal and the Catalina Mountains of Arizona, both in pine and 

 oak regions as low as 4,000 feet. July 30, 1884, a nest containing three 

 half-grown young was found ; it was in a natural cavity of a sycamore 

 tree fifty feet from the ground. A set of five eggs of this species is in 

 Mr. Norris' collection; they were taken April 30, 1880, near Shasta, 

 California. They are white and very glossy; sizes 1.05 x8o, i.iox.77, 

 1. 05 X. 76, 1. 06 X. 82, 1. 06 X. 81. Mr. Bryant has a set of six eggs col- 

 lected by Capt. Bendire near Camp Harney, Oregon, May 13, 1878. 

 Their sizes are 29.5x22, 30.5x21.5, 30x21.5, 27.5 x 21, 29.5x21.5, 30X 

 22 mm.* A set of four eggs taken by Mr. Bryant near Altaville, Cal- 

 ifornia, June, 1885, exhibit the following dimensions : 27 x 19, 24 x 18.5, 

 25.5 X 19, 24 X 18.5 mm.f These were found in a nest on the under side 

 of a limb of a live oak, ten feet from the ground. 



408. Melanerpes torquatus (Wils.) [376.] 



lie-nris's 'Woodpecker. 



Hab. Western United States, from the Black Hills and the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast. 



In most of the wooded, mountainous regions of the West, from the 

 Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, Lewis's Woodpecker is a common bird. 

 About Fort Klamath, Oregon, Dr. Merrill notes it as rather uncommon 

 during the summer, nesting usually near the tops of tall dead pines, 

 especially isolated ones, from which they can obtain a good view of 

 passing insects, which they will often follow to a considerable distance. 

 The general habits of this species are similar to those of the Red-headed 

 Woodpecker. It is found in greater or less abundance in the pine and 



»1.16x.87, 1.20 X. 85, 1.18X.85, 1.08x .83, 1.16x .85, 1 18x .87. 

 1 1.06 X .75, 94 x .73, 1 00 X .75, .94 X .71. 



