306 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



smaller than the former. We have another, again, from Georgia, which we 

 strongly suspect to be a distinct species, intermediate between the Pennsylvanian 

 specimens of villosus and the Picus querula of Wilson, now before us. It is 

 obviously a fine, full-plumaged male, perfectly resembling, in its general 

 markings and proportions, the smaller specimens of villosus ; but the red occipital 

 band is so broadly and decidedly divided by deep black, that it is reduced to the 

 appearance of two lateral transverse red spots, the space between which is full 

 three-tenths of an inch wide : it is rather smaller than the smallest of our New 

 York specimens of villosus: other more minute differences will be perceived by 

 reference to the vignette. As yet we have seen but one specimen. Should it 

 eventually prove a distinct species, we wish to record it by the name of our 

 friend^, M. Audubon, whose exquisite Illustrations of the Birds of his native 

 country justly entitles him to this tribute of our admiration; and we trust our 

 friend will be able to procure a sufficient number of specimens from his native 

 province (Louisiana), to establish the Picus Audubonii as a species in his great 

 work. — Sw. 



DESCRIPTION 



Of a male, killed, March, 1827, on the Saskatchewan. 



Colour. — Eye band extending to the nape, maxillary stripe prolonged down the neck to 

 the scapulars, and the ground of the dorsal plumage velvet-black, pure and shining on the 

 head. A scarlet occipital band divided in the middle (in some specimens) by black. Supra- 

 orbital line terminating in the crest, stripe from the nostrils half way along the neck, the chin, 

 and under plumage, broad stripes on the interscapulars and on the inner webs of the scapulars, 

 and the tips of the downy rump feathers, white. Wings marked with large roundish spots of 

 the same, forming about eight rows : inner coverts spotted with black. Tail coverts and 

 two middle pairs of tail feathers quite black ; third pair white at the tip and halfway down the 

 outer web ; next pair having a black spot at the base, and the outer pair entirely brownish- 

 white *. Bill greenish-black, pale at the base beneath. Legs oil-green. 



Form, typical. Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth quills nearly equal ; the fourth or fifth the 

 longest ; second mostly shorter than the seventh. — The female wants the red occipital band. 

 The white eye stripes, which in some females nearly meet on the occiput, in others are widely 

 separated by black. — R. 



Young males of the first year, in our possession, killed near New York, have the red band 

 distinctly divided ; but the pale brown tips of the intervening feathers prove this to be the 

 effect of youth. — Sw. 



* A northern specimen has a black spot on the outer feather of one side ; and in one of Mr. Swainson's New York 

 specimens there are two distinct black spots on the inner web of each of the outer pair of tail feathers. 



