240 

 MARIA'S WOODPECKER. 



-f Picus Martina, And. 



PLATE CCLX.— Male and Female. 



This well-marked species, which has not hitherto been described or 

 figured, was procured in the neighbourhood of Toronto in Upper Canada, by 

 a gentleman who presented me with two specimens of it, a male and a 

 female, but who has requested me not to mention his name. I am informed 

 by this close observer of nature that its habits are as nearly as possible the 

 same as those of the Hairy Woodpecker, Picus villosus, and that its eggs, 

 which rarely exceed six in number, are pure white and translucent. In 

 honouring this species with the name of Miss Maria Martin, I cannot 

 refrain from intimating the respect, admiration, and sincere friendship which 

 I feel towards her, and stating that, independently of her other accomplish- 

 ments, and our mutual goodwill, I feel bound to make some ornithological 

 acknowledgment for the aid she has on several occasions afforded me in 

 embellishing my drawings of birds, by adding to them beautiful and correct 

 representations of plants and flowers. 



Maria's Woodpecker, Picus Martina, Aud. Orn. Biog - ., vol. v. p. 181. 



Male, 9fL; wing, 4$. 



A pair found at Toronto, Upper Canada. 



Adult Male. 



Bill about the length of the head, straight, strong, angular, compressed 

 toward the tip, which, however, is not truncate, but very slightly cuneate or 

 worn on the sides. With this exception it is very similar to that of Picus 

 villosus and P. canadensis. Upper mandible with the dorsal line almost 

 straight, being very slightly convex, the ridge very narrow, the sides sloping 

 and fiat, or slightly concave, the lateral angle or ridge about half-way at its 

 commencement between the ridge and the margin, but in its course gradually 

 approximating the latter, and ending upon it about a fourth from the tip, 

 edges sharp, direct, overlapping, tip rather acute. Lower mandible with the 

 angle short and rather wide, the crural line a little concave, the dorsal 

 ascending and slightly convex, the ridge narrow, the sides convex, the 

 edges sharp and inclinate, the tip narrow. Nostrils oblong, basal, concealed 

 by the feathers, and placed near the margin. 



