160 
ZOOLOGY. 
eastern species. The only difference appears to be in slight but constant distinctions of 
plumage. I observed both of these species in California, where they were quite common. In 
the absence of the larger coniferee, Harris’s woodpecker frequented the oaks, &c., as it 
occasionally does in the north.—C. 
Extremely common on the Lower Columbia, especially among the willow trees lining its 
banks. They are winter residents, and in these situations very abundant. In January, 1856, 
I found them so abundant among the willows growing on the islands'^ the delta of the Willa¬ 
mette, that I readily obtained eight in the space of an hour. At this season they are very 
unwary, giving very little heed to the presence of man; scarcely allowing the near discharge 
of a gun to interfere with their busy search for food.—S. 
PICUS ALBOLARVATUS. 
'White-headed Woodpecker. 
Leuconerpes albolarvatus, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, Oct. 1850, 106. California. 
Melanerpes albolarvatus, Cassin, Jour. A. N. Sc., 2d series, II, Jan. 1853, 257 ; pi. 22.—Newberry, Zool. Cal. and 
Or eg. Route, 9, Rep. P. R. R. VI, 1857. 
Leuconerpes albolarvatus, Bonap. Consp. Zyg. At. Ital. 1854, 19. 
Picus ( Xenopicus) albolarvatus, Baird, Gen. Rep. Birds, p. 96. 
Sp. Ch. —Fourth and fifth quills equal and longest. Entirely bluish black, excepting the head and outer edges, with the 
entire basal portion, of the primaries, which are white. Male with a narrow line of red on the nape. 
Length about 9 inches ; extent, 16 inches ; wing, 5£. Iris brown. 
Hob. —Cascade mountains of Oregon and southward into California. 
The white-headed woodpecker I have only met with once. This was in a pine grove near 
the Spokane river, October 28, 1853. It was in company with Harris’s woodpecker, and several 
species of titmice, nuthatches, &c. In habits it seemed closely to resemble the other small 
woodpeckers. The country east of the Cascade mountains, resembling in many parts the dry, 
open forests of California, seem to be suited to the habits of many species of birds, Avhich, in 
migrating north, shun the dark, damp forests of the Lower Columbia. Several instances of this 
fact occurred to me besides the present.—C. 
SPHYRAPICUS RUBER, Baird. 
Reel-breasted Woodpecker. 
Picusruber, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1, 1788, 429.— Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827, No. 151.— Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 179, pi. 
416.— Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 261 ; pi. 266. 
Melanerpes ruber, Rich. List, Pr. Br. Assoc, for 1835.— Bonap. List. 1838.— Ib. Consp. 1850, 115. 
Pilumnus ruber, Bov. Consp. Zyg. Aten. Ital. 1854, 8. 
Picusflaviventris, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 67. 
Sphyrapicus ruber, Baird, Gen. Rep. Birds, 104. 
Sp. Ch.—F ourth quill longest; third intermediate between fourth and fifth. Bill brown wax color. Head and neck all 
round and breast carmine red. Above black, central line of back from nape to rump spotted with whitish ; rump, wing coverts, 
and inner web of the inner tail feathers white, the latter with a series of round black spots. Belly sulphur yellow, streaked 
with brown on the sides. Narrow space around and a little in front of the eye black. A narrow yellowish stripe from the 
nostrils a short distance below and behind the eye. Length, about 9.50 inches; extent, 15.75; wing, 5 inches ; tail, 3.40 
inches. Iris, bill, and feet pale brown. 
Hab. —Pacific slope of the United States. 
The crimson-beaded woodpecker, though it is colored somewhat like the red-head of the 
Atlantic States, can scarcely be considered analogous to it, as it appears to differ much in habits. 
