288 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Genus SPHYRAPICUS Baird. (Page 280, pi. LXXXIIL, fig. 3.) 



Species. 



Common Characters. — Belly plain yellowish or white ; upper parts black, more 

 or less varied with white, the inner webs of middle pair of tail-feathers largely or 

 chiefly white. 



a 1 . Eump mixed black and white ; belly pale sulphur-yellow, or whitish ; sexes not 

 very different in color. 

 b 1 . Chest with a black patch, and sides of head with white stripes in adult. 

 Adult male with crown, forehead, chin, and throat crimson -red. Adult 

 female with chin and at least part of throat (entire throat in S. varius) 

 white, the forehead and crown sometimes (in individuals of S. varius) 

 glossy black. 

 c 1 . Nape brownish white. Adult male with red of throat separated from 

 the white stripe on cheeks by a distinct and continuous black malar 

 stripe, connecting with the black patch on chest. Adult female with 

 chin and throat entirely white, and red sometimes wanting on top 

 of head. Young : Black, red, and white of head, neck, and chest 

 nearly or quite wanting, the general color being a dull light 

 mottled brownish tint, the pattern of the adult but faintly indi- 

 cated. Length 7.75-8.75, wing (male) 4.80-5.00 (4.92), tail 2.90- 

 3.20 (3.07), culmen 1.00-1.08 (1.04). Eggs .86 X -66. Hob. North- 

 ern and eastern North America, breeding from northern United 

 States northward ; south, in winter, to West Indies, Mexico (both 

 coasts), and Guatemala. 



402. S. varius (Linn.). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. 

 (?. Nape more or less tinged with red (often with a distinct red band or 

 transverse patch). Adult male with red of throat extending, in 

 middle portion, quite to the white cheek-stripe, the black malar 

 stripe being thereby obliterated, except at extremities. Adult 

 female with lower part of throat (sometimes nearly whole throat) 

 red. Length 8.00-8.75, wing (male) 4.92-5.10 (5.03), tail 3.10-3.40 

 (3.26), culmen .95-1.02 (.99). Eggs .87 X -65. Sab. Eocky Moun- 

 tain district of United States, west to eastern slope of Sierra Nevada 

 and Cascade ranges, south into mountains of Mexico. 



402a. S. varius nuchalis Baird. Red-naped Sapsucker. 

 b 1 . Chest without black patch, and sides of head without white stripes. 



Adult (sexes alike) : Head, neck, and chest uniform red, or with white 

 markings and black chest-patch of S. varius and S. nuchalis showing 

 indistinctly through the plumage. Young : Similar to same stage 

 of S. varius and S. nuchalis, but darker, the head, etc., usually with 

 a pronounced dull purplish red suffusion. Length about 8.50-9.25, 



