116 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 
This species differs in one respect from any other of our North American woodpeckers in the 
peculiar character of the feathers of the under surface. The fibres of the feathers are longer 
than usual, and remarkably stiff. Those on the f'erminal third of each feather are of the usual 
character at the base, or provided with fibrillae, those of opposite sides interlocking as in feathers 
generally. The terminal portion, however, of the stem of the fibre is much enlarged, and ex- 
panded laterally to twice or more the diameter at the root, and converted into quite a stiff 
bristle, nearly smooth, or with very slight indications in places of the fibrillae. It is this por- 
tion of the feather that is colored. 
In addition to the characters given in the above diagnosis it may be stated that the narrow 
collar around the lower neck is composed of hoary white feathers of the same texture as those 
on the belly. On the sides of the neck and throat a black suffusion separates the crimson from 
the hoary. This is seldom as pure as on the nape, appearing as if soiled with brownish. On 
the upper part of the belly the bright blood red is confined to the central bristly fibres of each 
feather, the lateral ones being of a roseate hoary, and imparting the streaked character referred 
to ; posteriorly the red predominates. The anal region, the under tail coverts, the tibia, and 
the sides of body and under surface of the wing are pure greenish black. The red and hoary 
are, therefore, entirely superficial when the wing is closed. 
In one specimen there is an occasional feather on the back of a violet tinge. One specimen 
(6144) has the red of the belly of an orange red shade, this varying, in fact,, to a considerable 
degree with different specimens. 
A young specimen (5619) lacks the hoary collar entirely, and the red around the bill is 
replaced by black. The under parts are dirty grayish, obscurely blotched with greenish brown. 
There are scattered indications of red. 
List of specimens. 
6133 
6134 
6135 
Col. river 
Rocky mountains.... 
San Francisco 
California 
Tulare valley, Cal 
Fort Thorn, N. M . . . . 
Pole Creek, N. T 
Cheyenne liver, Neb. 
Laramie peak 
When col- 
lected. 
Sept. 22, 1834 
July 9, 1834 
Winter, 53, '54 
Aug. 2,1855 
Mar. 12, 1855 
Aug. 24, 1857 
Whence obtained. 
Dr. Suckley . 
do 
Dr. Suckley , 
S. F. Band 
do 
R. D. Cutts 
Dr. Heermann 
Lieut. Williamson. 
Dr. Henry, U. S.A. 
Lieut. Bryan 
Dr. Hayden 
Lieut. Warren 
do 
do 
J. K. Townsend. 
do 
Dr. Heermann . 
W. S. Wood . 
11.25 
10.25 
11.25 
10.50 
11.50 
10.75 
22.25 
20.50 
20.50 
21.00 
20.00 
21.50 
In- reddish brown 
