clxii PiciD®. BIRDS. Picib.®. 
is cut in solid wood, and is described by Wilson 
as being as regular as it' marked by a pair of com- 
passes. During the labor of constructing tlie nest, 
they regularly carry out the chips, often strewing 
them at a distance, to prevent suspicion. 'The 
House Wren, who has the power to construct its 
own nest, is known to take advantage of the little 
Woodpecker, and when the excavation is completed, 
meanly usurps tlie cosy domicile and drives away its 
I'ightful owner. He lias a single note, or chueh, 
which, like the former species, he frequently repeats ; 
and when lie flies off to another tree, utters a rather 
shriller cry, composed of the same note, frequently 
repeated. This is the smallest of our Woodpeckers, 
being only six inches and three-quarters in length. 
GAIRDNER’S WOODPECKER (P. puhescens; 'oar. 
gairdneri). — This is a variety of the preceding, found 
only on the western portion of the continent. It is 
similar to pubescens in size and markings, but with 
less white on the wings. 
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (P. scalaris) is 
found in Me.xico and Guatemala, and adjacent parts 
of the United States, and is one of the smallest of 
the North American species. Its habits are much 
the same as those of the other varieties. 
THE CAPE WOODPECKER (P. scalaris; var. lucas- 
amis ). — In this variety there is a general appearance 
to F. nuttali and scalaris, but the bill and feet are 
much larger, and some difference of marking is ob- 
servable. Habitat, Cape St. Lucas. 
NUTTALL’S WOODPECKER (P. nuttaUi).—Jn\nih- 
iting the coast region of California, and first discov- 
ered by Ur. Gambel near Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. 
Kidgway describes its notes as very peculiar, the 
usual one being a prolonged, querulous, rattling call, 
unlike that of any other bird known to him. Its 
length is seven inches ; wing, four and a half. 
RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER (P. borealis).— 
This bird is southern in its habitat, and is rarely 
seen as far north as Pennsylvania. It is quite re- 
stricted to the south-eastern portion of the United 
States, and has been seen as far west as Eastern 
Texas. Stragglers have been found farther north. 
Mr. Lawrence obtained aspecimen in Hoboken, N. J. 
'This species is said to be particularly agile. Audu- 
bon says : “ It glides upwards and sideways along the 
trunks and branches, on the lower as well as the upper 
sides of the latter, moving with great celerity, and oc- 
casionally uttering a short, shrill, clear cry, that can 
be heard at considerable distance.” Length of body 
seven inches and a quarter; wing, four and a half. 
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER (P. albolarvatvs). 
— This s|)ecies was first discovered by Mr. John G. 
Hell, in the vicinity of Sutter’s Mills, in California. 
I le says it frequents the higher branches of the pines, 
keeping almost out of gun-shot range. Active and 
restless in its movements, it utters at rare intervals a 
sharp and clear note, while busily pursuing its search for 
food. Its habits and manners are the same as those 
of the P. harrisi, but it is of a livelier and more rest- 
less disposition. Its white head and primaries ren- 
der it easily distinguishable. Length about nine 
inches ; wing, five and a quarter. 
BLACK-BACKED THREE-TOED WOODPECKER (Pi- 
eoides arcticus ). — 'I’liis differs from other American 
Woodpeckers in having the back entirely black. 
Its range of habitat is from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific, and from the northern portion of the United 
States to the Arctic regions. Audubon says it occurs 
in Northern Massachusetts, and in all portions of 
Maine that are covered by forests of tall trees, where 
it constantly resides. Dr. Cooper speaks of it as a 
very silent bird ; the only note he heard being a shrill, 
harsh, rattling cry, quite distinct from that of any 
other Woodpecker. Prof. Verrill says this bird is 
very common in Western Maine in the spring, fall 
and winter, but is not found there in the summer. 
WHITE -BACKED THREE -TOED WOODPECKER 
(Picoides tridactylus; var. americanus ) — Plate 16, 
fig. 58 — is not a common bird in any part of America. 
It is mostly confined to the Arctic regions, coming 
south as far as the States in winter. In habits it is 
said to resemble the Hairy Woodpecker. 
YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKER {Sphyropicus 
varius) is found throughout the United States. It is 
very irregularly distributed in New England. Ver- 
rill says it is a common summer visitor, and breeds 
at Norway, Me. On the seaboard it is considered 
rare. It prefers the woods to more open places, and 
is not seen in the orchards, as is the Hairy Wood- 
pecker and others. 'I'his bird, like other spe- 
cies, has a habit of picking holes in sound trees, 
where no signs of insects appear. “What their 
object is,” says Dr. Bryant, “ has not been satisfac- 
torily settled. In Massachusetts, I am not aware 
that these holes are ever sufficiently large or numer- 
ous to cause any material injury to the apple trees. 
'They are generally seen in circles around the limbs 
and trunks, and in this vicinity are almost exclusively 
made by the Downy Woodpecker, aided occasionally 
by the Hairy Woodpecker.” 
RED-NAPED WOODPECKER {S. varins ; var. nucha- 
lis ). — 'I'his variety is very constant in its markings, 
and is considered to be a distinct species. It is 
confined to the middle province of the United 
States; found in Arizona and vicinity of Fort 
.Mohave. 'I'wo specimens have been taken in New 
England, but were undoubtedly stragglers. Its notes, 
habits and manners are like those of the S. varins. 
WILLIAMSON’S WOODPECKER [S. williamsoni).— 
The range of this species is from the Rocky Moun- 
tains to the Cascade .Mountains, Sierra Nevada. It 
was first discovered by Dr. Newberry, in the pine 
forest of Upper Klamath Lake. Its habits and 
notes are similar to those of P. harrisi. 
BROWN-HEADED WOODPECKER [S. thyroideus). 
— Habitat, the cascade and coast ranges of Califor- 
nia and Oregon, Sierra Nevada, 'Wahsatch and 
Rocky Mountains. 'I’his is regarded as a very rare 
species. It was first met with by Mr. J. G. Bell, in 
the lower Sierra Nevada. Its manners and note are 
like those of the preceding species. 
BLACK WOODCOCK; LOG-COCK [Hylatomus pilea- 
tus). — 'I’his is a large species, measuring eighteen 
inches in length, and having the wing nine and a half 
inches long. It extends over the wooded portions 
