INSESSORES. 243 



2. Genus PICUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. T, p. 173 (1766). 

 1. Picus Harrisii, Audubon. 



Picus Harrisii, AuDUBON, Orn. Biog. V, p. 191 (1839). 



Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCCXVII, figs. 8, 9 ; octavo ed. IV, Plate 

 CCLXI. 



This bird appears to be peculiar to, but widely diffused over the 

 western countries of the United States. In adult plumage, it presents 

 the clear white and black colors characteristic of other species of the 

 same group, all the under parts being of a pure white, not at all tinged 

 or sordid, as has been represented by authors. Specimens from Oregon 

 are in the collection of the Expedition. 



3. Genus COLAPTES, Swainson, Zool. Jour. Ill, p. 353 (1827). 

 1. CoLAPTES MEXICANUS, Swainson. 

 Colaptes mexicanns, SWAINS. Philos. Mag. 1827, p. 410. 



Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCCXVI ; oct. ed. IV, Plate CCLXXIV. 



Now commonly brought in collections from California, this bird was, 

 until within a few years, very rare in collections, and especially prized 

 by American naturalists and collectors, on account of its few but 

 strongly marked points of difference from the common Colaptes aura- 

 tiis, of the Atlantic States. Since the acquisition of California and 

 New Mexico, those extensive, and, zoologically considered, exceedingly 

 interesting regions have been visited by several accomplished ornitho- 

 logists and active and energetic collectors, such as Col. George A. 

 McCall, late Inspector-General in the Army of the United States, Mr, 

 John G. Bell, of New York, Dr. T. Charlton Henry, and Dr. George 

 Suckley, of the Army of the United States, and others, who have con- 

 tributed in a most important measure to Natural History, especially 

 to that of the birds of those countries. This species appears to be 

 abundantly and widely diffused in Western North America. 



