314 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



[106.] 1. Colaptes auratus. (Swains.) Golden-shafted Woodpecker. 



Genus, Colaptes, Swains. Sub-genus, (Typical form,) Swains. 



Picus auratus. Foiistee, Phil. Trans., lxii., p. 387, No. 12. 



Golden-wing Woodpecker. Penn. Arct. ZooL, ii., p. 270, No. 158. Wils., i., p. 45, 



pi. 13, f. 1. Vieix. Ois. de I'Jm., ii., pi. 123. 

 Picus auratus. Sab., Frankl. Journ., p. CC6. Bonap. Syn., No. 36. Wagl. Picus, No. 84. 

 Oothee quan-nornow. Cree Indians. 



This beautifully marked bird visits the fur-countries only in the summer time, 

 advancing- as far north as Great Slave Lake, but resorting- in the greatest 

 numbers to the plains of the Saskatchewan. Instead of hiding itself in the depths 

 of the forest, like the other Woodpeckers, it frequents the open downs, and 

 employs itself in turning over the ant-hillocks in search of the larvae on which 

 it preys. Having made its repast, it often perches on the summit of a dead tree, 

 to repose itself, its mode of life by no means requiring the continual toil which 

 the Pici of the preceding pages are condemned to. It can, however, use its bill 

 very efficiently in excavating a hole for its nest. In the pairing season the male 

 frequently makes a loud rapping on the branch of a tree with its bill, which I 

 have conjectured to be a signal to its mate, as I did not observe that it drilled 

 holes at such times. Though a watchful and, in some respects, a shy bird, I 

 have known it to construct its nest in the natural cavity of a solitary tree, 

 standing near the door of a trading-post. 



DESCRIPTION 

 Of a male, killed on the Saskatchewan, May 14, 1827. 



Colour. — Upper plumage hair-brown : nuchal crest tipped with arterial blood-red; the fore 

 part of the back, the scapulars, wing coverts, and lesser quills, regularly barred with black 

 (this colour extending also to the middles of the lesser quills). Greater quills umber-brown, 

 with small marginal hair-brown spots : the shafts of all the quills, the interior of the wings, 

 and the basal half of the tail beneath, bright saffron-yellow. Rump pure white ; its sides 

 and the tail coverts above and below banded with black and white. Tail pitch-black, obso- 

 letely tipped and spotted on the edges with brownish-white. Sides of the head, chin, and 

 under plumage, fawn-coloured *, fading to greyish-white towards the vent. Maxillary band, 

 a gorget on the breast, and round spots over the whole ventral plumage, velvet black. Bill 

 bluish-black. Irides brown. Legs greyish-blue. — The female differs merely in wanting the 

 maxillary band. — R. 



Form, typical. Bill much compressed ; the culmen sharply ridged, and gently curved in 

 its whole length : there is not the least vestige of lateral ridges or angles on the upper man- 



* Intermediate between yellowish-brown and brownish-purple. (Light cinnamon or fawn-colour. — Wils.) 



