94 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 
yellowish or whitish color of the bristly frontal feathers, in marked contrast with the forehead, 
instead of a smoky brown, will readily distinguish them, independently of the loose downy 
texture of the belly feathers, so characteristic of young woodpeckers. 
This species was first described by Dr. Grambel as P. nuttalli, who subsequently referred it 
erroneously to P. scalaris. It appears to be confined to the region in California west of the 
coast range, and extending at least as far south as San Diego. In this distribution it rep_ 
resents the P. borealis of the South Atlantic States. 
Litt of specimens. 
Catal. No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When collected. 
Whence obtained 
Collected by— 
3337 
3338 
4482 
5965 
6116 
5400 
6117 
4472 
4471 
S 
9 
3 
9 
S 
9 
9 
<? 
9 
Dr. Gambel 
.do 
do 
Santa Clara, 1 !al 
do 
Nov. — , 1855 
do 
Dr. J. G. Cooper 
do 
R r>. Ontts _ . - _____ 
Petaluma, Cal.. -- 
May — , 1856 
Jan. — , 1855 
Aug. — , 1855 
E. Samuels 
Bodega, Cal 
Lieut. Trowbridge 
Mr. Szabo 
Yreka, Cal.. 
Dr. Newberry 
do 
do 
PICUS SCALARIS, Wagler. 
Pints scalaris, Wagler, Isis, 1829, V, 511. (Mexico.)— Bonap. Consp. 1850, 138. 
Picus (Dijctiopkus) scalaris, Bon. Consp. Zygod. Aten. Ital. 1854, 8. 
Picus gracilis, Less. Rev. ZooL 1839, 90. (Mexico.) 
Picus parvus, Cabot, Boston Jour. N. H. V, 1845, 90. (Sisal, Yucatan.) 
Sp. Ch. — Back banded transversely with black and white to the neck. Crown crimson spotted with white, from the bill to 
the nape ; tuft of feathers at the base of the bill brown. A white stripe above the eye, continued on the side of the neck; 
another under the eye, interrupted by the black of the side of the head. Undtr parts smoky brownish white, spotted on the 
sides of the breast, and banded on the flank with black. Predominating color of the three outer tail feathers black, with white 
bands chiefly on the outer webs. Length about 6i inches ; wing 4j. Female without red on the head. 
Hab. — Rocky mountains and its slopes, south of 35th parallel, to Yucatan. 
This species is among the smallest of all the North American species, and has been but 
recently introduced into the fauna of the United States. The wings are long, reaching as far 
as the short feathers of the tail. The third and fourth quills are longest, the second and then 
the fifth a little shorter. The upper parts generally are black, on the back, rump, and exposed 
feathers of the wings, banded narrowly and transversely with white; the primaries spotted with 
the same on both webs. The upper tail coverts and two inner tail feathers on either side are 
black. The white bands of the back extend all the way up to the neck, without any interscapular 
interruption. The under parts are of a pale smoky brownish white, almost with a lilac tinge ; 
on the sides of the breast and belly are a few scattered short, but elongated spots. The posterior 
part of the sides under the wing and the under tail coverts are obscurely banded transversely 
with black. The top of the head, extending from the very base of the bill to a short, broad 
nuchal crest, is crimson in the male, each feather with a white spot between the crimson and 
