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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
Ficus albolarvatus (Baird). 
White-headed Woodpecker. The only place I ever saw this very rare bird 
was in the open timbered country about the Colville valley and Spokan river: why 
it should be confined to such a limited area I am somewhat at a loss to imagine, 
except it be that this woodpecker almost invariably haunts the Finns ponderosa , 
and never retires into the thick damp forest. It arrives in small numbers at 
Colville in April, and disappears again in October and November, or as soon as the 
snow begins to fall. Although I did not succeed in obtaining its eggs I saw a 
pair nesting in a hole bored in the branch of a very tall pine tree, ( Finns ponderosa), 
this was in May. Seldom flies far, but darts from tree to tree with a short jerking 
flight, and always whilst flying utters a sharp clear chirping cry. The specimens 
sent home were shot in the Colville valley. 
Ficoides arcticusi — (Swainson) . 
Black-backed three-toed Woodpecker. I obtained this bird once only, 
it was on the summit of the Cascade Mountains. It was late in September and 
getting cold; the bird was alone and flying restlessly from tree to tree, but not 
searching for insects: both when on the wing and when clinging against a tree 
it continually utters a shrill plaintive cry. Its favourite tree appears to be the 
Finns contoi'ta , which only grows at great altitudes. I do not think this woodpecker 
is found except at great altitudes. In the valleys and lower plains it is replaced by 
the banded three-toed woodpecker ( Ficoides hirsutns). 
Hylatomus pileatus. — (Baird) . 
Log Cock. Not often seen, and difficult to obtain from its shy habits, always 
hiding in the dark pine forests, the silence of which is often broken by the tremen¬ 
dous noise this bird makes, rapping on the dead trees. It has a wide range, common 
east and west of the Cascades, and on the west slope of the .Rocky Mountains; I 
have seen it north as far as Fort Rupert,—Vancouver Island,—and south through 
Oregon and California. Whether they migrate south I dont know, but I obtained 
them at Colville during the winter. Nests in May, generally in a tall dead pine 
tree at a great height. 
Melanerpes torquatus. — (Bonap.) 
Lewis’ Woodpecker. Not found as far as I'know west of the Cascades, but is 
very abundant between the Cascades and Rocky Mountains, it here frequents the 
open timber. Its habits and modes of flight are not the least like a woodpecker; 
it flies with a heavy flapping motion much like a jay, feeds a great deal on the 
ground, and chases insects on the wing much like a shrike or king bird. Whilst 
mating they assemble in large numbers, and keep up a continual loud chattering 
noise; arrives at Colville in April, begins nesting in May, and leaves again in 
October. The nest is in a hole in a dead pine tree, usually a great height from the 
ground; the eggs brought home were obtained at Colville. 
Colaptes mexicanus. — (Swainson) . 
Red Shafted Flicker. Very abundant on Vancouver Island, east and west 
sides of the Cascades, and up to the summit of the west slope of the Rocky 
Mountains. They arrive at the island about the end of March, and at Colville in 
April and May, nest in May, in a dead pine tree; remain at Colville until the 
snow begins to fall in October and November. I scarcely know a bird more 
plentiful than this woodpecker. 
