A REVISION OF THE FORMS OF THE LADDER-BACKEDWOODPECKER (DRYOBATES SCALARIS [WAGLER]).By Harry C. Oberholser,Assistant Ornithologist, Department of Agriculture.
This paper is the outgrowth of an attempt to determine the propername for tiie ladder-backed woodpecker of Texas. The investiga-tion has developed some interesting results, which it seems wellto publish collectively. The writer is under great obligation toIVIr. Ridgway for the use of aU the material of this group that hehad brought together for his "Birds of North and Middle America," aswell as a large number of his measurements. Altogether 560 speci-mens have been available, comprising the collections of the U. S,National Museum, with that of the Biological Survey; the ifmericanMuseum of Natural History; the Academy of Natural Sciences ofPhiladelphia; the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge,including the Bangs collection; the Carnegie Museum at Pittsburg;and the Field Museum of Chicago.The ladder-backed woodpeckers, Dryohates scalaris (Wagler), rangefrom the southwestern United States, in southern Colorado andsouthern Utah, to southeastern Mexico and British Honduras,chiefly in the Lower Austral and Tropical zones. They are strictlyresident, and are preeminently birds of the chaparral and cactus,rarely frequenting the forest. In a general way the smallest formsinhabit the south and the largest forms the north. The six cur-rently recognized races are here increased to fifteen. The adultfemales differ from the males in lacking all red on the pileum, blacktaking its place, and in being of smaller size; otherwise the sexes areidentical. There is considerable individual variation in both size andcolor.In all measurements, which are in millimeters, it has been the aimto use, as far as possible, only typical specimens, so that the aver-ages and extremes may represent, not the limits of intermediatespecimens, but standards for the various forms.The following key may be of some assistance for purposes ofidentification, as well as serving for an exposition of salient characters.Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 41?No. 1847. 139
140 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.41.KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES OF DRYOBATES SCALAEIS, BASED ON ADULT MALES.
u. Outermost long rectrix (the second) with black spots or bars on whole of both vanes.*b. Lower surface darker, more smoky.c. Larger (wing usually more than 100 mm.); sides of breast streaked with black;black bars on upper parts wider; black postocular and malar stripes wider,the latter reaching bill.d. Somewhat larger (wing averaging 104.4 mm.); lower surface darker; blackbars on back broader; postocular stripe wider . . . .Dryobates scalaris bairdi.d' . Somewhat smaller (wing averaging 102.4 mm.); lower surface lighter; blackbars on back narrower; jjostocular stripe narrower.Dryobates scalaris centrophilus
.
(/. Smaller (wing less than 100 mm.); sides of breast spotted with black; blackbars on upper parts narrower; black postocular and malar stripes narrower,the latter not reaching bill.d. Larger (wing more than 93 mm.); black bars on basal part of exterior vaneof outermost long rectrix (the second) averaging larger, never absent.Dryobates scalaris scalaris.d' . Smaller (wing usually less than 93 mm.); black bars on basal part of exteriorvane of outermost long rectrix (the second) reduced to spots, and averagingsmaller, occasionally absent Dryobates scalaris ridgwayi.y. Lower surface lighter, less smoky,c. Larger (wing usually over 100 mm.; averaging more than 101 mm.).d. Upper parts darker (the white bars narrower, the black bars broader); sides
? of breast more often streaked; size somewhat larger.Dryobates scalaris cactophilus.d' . Upper parts lighter (the white bars wider, the black bars narrower); sides
* of breast less often streaked; size somewhat smaller.Dryobates scalaris sympleclus.(/. Smaller (wing under 100 mm.; averaging less than 98 mm.).d. Postocular and malar stripes wider, the latter always reaching bill; sizesmaller (wing averaging 89.1 mm.); black bars on back somewhat narrower;primary coverts with somewhat less white; lower parts less heavily spotted.Dryobates scalaris parvus.d' . Postocular and malar stripes narrower, the latter usually not reaching bill;size larger (wing averaging 96.5); black bars on back somewhat wider;primary coverts with somewhat more white; lower parts more heavilyspotted Dryobates scalaris percus.a' . Outermost long rectrix (the second) with black spots or bars wanting on most ofbasal half of exterior vane.h. Lower surface much darker,c. Larger (wing more than 90 mm.); sides of breast streaked with black; primarycoverts with more white.d. Back and scapulars darker, the black bars wider, the white bars narrower;size decidedly greater (wing averaging more than 100 mm.); malar stripenot obsolete at base of bill; black bars on tail generally broader; streakson sides of breast rather wider Dryobates scalaris agnus.(?'. Back and scapulars lighter, the black bars narrower, the white barswider; size decidedly smaller (wing averaging less than 100 mm.); malarstripe nearly always obsolete at base of bill; black bars on tail generallynarrower; streaks on sides of breast rather narrower.Dryobates scalaris sinaloensis.
I In Dryobates scalaris ridgwayi these are occasionally wanting on proximal portion of outer vane.
NO. 1847. THE LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS?OBERHOLSER. 141(/. Smaller (wing less than 90 mm.); sides of breast spotted with black; primary-coverts with less white Dryobates scalaris leucoptihirus.y. Lower surface much lighter.c. Smaller (wing less than 100 mm.); outer webs of primary coverts with very littleor no white; postocular stripe rather broader; malar stripe obsolete at baseof bill.d. Under parts lighter; size decidedly larger (wing not less than 95 mm.); lowersurface less heavily spotted with black; black bars on back and tailbroader Dryobates scalaris graysoni.d' . Under parts darker; size decidedly smaller (wing less than 95 mm.); lowersurface more heavily spotted with black; black bars on back and tailnarrower Dryobates scalaris azelus.cf . Larger (wing not less than 100 mm.); outer webs of primary coverts conspicu-ously spotted with white; postocular stripe not so broad; malar stripe notobsolete at base of bill.d. Decidedly smaller (wing averaging less than 104 mm.); ventral surfacelighter; lighter above (the white bars on back averaging wider and moreregular, the black bars narrower); black bars on posterior lower partsaveraging less heavy Dryobates scalaris lucasanus.d' . Decidedly larger (wing averaging more than 104 mm.); ventral siu-facedarker; darker above (the white bars on back averaging narrower andless regular, the black bars wider); black bars on posterior lower partsaveraging somewhat heavier Dryobates scalaris eremicus.DRYOBATES SCALARIS SCALARIS (Wagler).Piciis scalaris Wagler, Isis, 1829, p. 511.Picus gracilis Lesson, Rev. Zool., 1839, p. 41 (Mexico).Picus orizabae Cassin, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1863, p. 196 (Jalapa, VeraCruz, Mexico).Chars, suhsp.?Size medium (wing of male averaging about 96mm.); white bars of back wider than the black interspaces; exteriorwebs of three outer pairs of tail-feathers barred throughout withblack and wliite, although the black bars occasionally incompletebasally; outer webs of primary coverts shghtly spotted with wliite;malar stripe more or less obsolete at base of bill; lower surfacesmoky browTiish; sides of breast and body hghtly spotted with black.Description.?Adult male, No. 37432, U.S.N.M.; Orizaba, VeraCruz, Mexico, January 15, 1864; F. Sumichrast. Crown and napeblack, the feathers of the former subterminally dull wliite, terminallyscarlet vermihon, this producing a mottled effect on the topof the head, but merging into a solid band of red on the occiputand anterior hind neck; remaining upper parts black, all, exceptingthe superior tail-coverts, barred with white?these white bars nearlyall \\dder than the black interspaces; tail black, the three externalpairs of rectrices, including the dwarfed outermost one, much barredwith dull white, except on basal portion of inner webs of the secondand third; the fourth pair spotted wdth white on margin of outervane; wdngs black, the remiges spotted conspicuously on both webswith white, these spots forming, on tertials fairly well-defined bars, the
142 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.41medium and greater coverts heavily, the lesser and primary covertssparingly, spotted on both webs with white; sides of head and neckHglit smoky brownish, the superciliary stripe rather more whitish; apostocular and a malar stripe of black, which meet on the side of theneck, the malar stripe, however, more or less obsolete at the base ofthe bill; nasal tufts and entire inferior surface smoky bro\\'iiish, paler,even wliitish on crissum; sides of breast and body with small spots ofblack, flanks and crissum mth bars of the same color; Hning of wingwhite, with spots of black.Measurements.?Male*: Wing, 95-97 (average, 96.3) mm.; tail,52.5-55 (53.5); exposed culmen, 19.5-21 (20.2); tarsus, 18; middletoe, 11.5-12 (11.8).Female: 2 Wing, 93-98 (95.1); tail, 49-52.5 (50.1); exposed cul-men, 17.5-19.5 (18.5); tarsus, 16-16.5 (16.3); middle toe, 10.5-12(11.6).Tyj)e-locality
.
?"Mexico:" i. e., central part of the State of VeraCruz, Mexico.Geographical distribution.?Central eastern Mexico: north to AltaIVIira, southeastern Tamaulipas; west to Valles, eastern San LuisPotosi; Jico and Orizaba, central western Vera Cruz; south to Cor-doba and Orizaba, central western Vera Cruz; east to Carrizal, cen-tral eastern Vera Cruz; and Tampico, southeastern Tamaulipas.Specimens examined from various parts of the range of this form,as above outlined, are very uniform in size. A female from Chal-chicomula, Puebla, has the black bars on outer web of outermostlong tail-feather much reduced, and in this appears to be aberrant,verging toward Dryohates scalaris azelus,^ but its other charactersproclaim it the present form. Birds from extreme southeasternTamaulipas (Alta Mira and Tampico) are somewhat intermediate incolor between this race and Dryohates scalaris symplectus,'^ but ingeneral characters are nearer D. s. scalaris.In the original description of Dryohates scalaris ^ the type-locahtygiven is simply "Mexico;" but the measurements there added,*and the subsequent remarks of Malherbe,' who examined the type,evidently refer to the bird of central Vera Cruz, to which wetherefore here restrict the name scalaris. The Picus gracilis otLesson, poorly described^ from "Mexico," is the same form, asMalherbe's remarks on the type ? clearly indicate. The Picus orizabae
1 Three specimens, from the State of Vera Cruz, Mexico.2 Five specimens, from Vera Cruz and eastern San Luis Potosi, Mexico,s See p. 147.4 See p. 155.6 Picus scalaris Wagler, Isis, 1829, p. 511.6 Ibid. These, reduced to millimeters, are: Wing, 95.3; tail, 54.9; exposed culmen, 17.5; tarsus, 17.
' Mon. Picid6es. vol. 1, 1861, p. 116, et seq.8 Rev. Zool., 1839, p. 41.9 Mon. Picid6es, vol. 1, 1861, p. 117.
NO. 1847. THE LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS?OBERHOLSER. 143of Cassin,? from Jalapa, Vera Cruz, the type of wliich we have seen,is also a synonym of Dryohates scalaris scalaris. Malherbe's Picusscalaris var. d'orizaha,^ commonly cited under D. s. scalaris, is merelya vernacular designation, and has therefore no real standing innomenclature.Twelve specimens of this form have been examined, from the fol-lowing locaHties in Mexico:San Luis Potosi.?^Valles.Tamaulipas.?Alta Mira; Tampico.Vera Cruz.?Carrizal; Jico; Mirador; Orizaba.DRYOBATES SCALARIS RIDGWAYI, 3 new subspecies.Chars, suhsj).?Similar to Dryohates scalans scalaris, but muchsmaller; and the black bars (of scalaris) on basal part of exterior webof outermost long rectrix averaging smaller and reduced to spots,sometimes absent.Description.?Type, adult male, No. 187546, U.S.N.M., BiologicalSurvey collection; Jaltipan, Vera Cruz, Mexico, February 3, 1904;E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Crown and nape black, thefeathers of the former subterminally brownish white, terminallypoppy red, this producing a mottled effect on the top of the head,but merging into a solid band of red on the occiput and anteriorhind neck; rest of upper body surface black, all, except the superiortail-coverts, barred with dull wliite?these white bars decidedly widerthan the black interspaces; tail black, the three exterior pairs offeathers, includmg the dwarfed outermost one, much barred withbro\vnish white except on basal portion of inner web of second andthird, the black interspaces reduced to spots on basal portion of theexternal web of the outermost long rectrix (the second) ; the fourthpair of rectrices barred distally with bro^\^lish white; wings black,much spotted with white, this forming, on tertials, fairly well-definedbars; sides of head and neck light smoky brownish, the superciliarystripe somewhat paler; a postocular and a malar stripe of black,which meet on the side of the neck, the malar stripe, however, obso-lete anteriorly; nasal tufts and whole lower surface smoky brown,paler posteriorly; sides of breast and body with small spots of black;flanks and crissum with bars of the same; lining of wing white, withspots of black.Measurements.?Male:^ Wing, 88-92.5 (average, 90.8) mm.; tail,45-50.5 (47.8); exposed culmen, 18.5-20.5 (19.1); tarsus, 16-17.5(16.6); middle toe, 11.5-12 (11.8).
' Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1863, p. 196.?Mon. Picidees, vol. 3, 1861, pi. 27, fig. 6.
' Named for Mr. Robert Ridgway, as a slight token of appreciation oi many and various courtesies.* Four specimens, from the State of Vera Cruz, Mexico.
144 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.41.Female: 1 Wing, 86-89.5 (88); tail, 47.5; exposed culmen, 17-19.5(18); tarsus, 16; middle toe, 11-11.5 (11.3).Type-locality.?Jaltipan, Vera Cruz, Mexico.GeograpMcal distribution.?Southeastern Vera Cruz, Mexico : north-west to Tlacotalpam; east to Jaltipan; and south to Pasa Nueva.This new race may be distinguished from Dryohates scalaris parvus,of Yucatan, by its decidedly lighter upper parts?the black barsnarrower, the white ones broader; much narrower postocular andmalar stripes, the latter not reaching the bill; smaller or absentblack markings on outer vane of outermost long rectrix; darkerlower surface; and less heavily spotted sides of breast and body. Itdiffers from Dryohates scalaris hairdi, of Hidalgo, in being very muchsmaller; in having the upper parts decidedly lighter, the black barsbeing narrower; black bars on tail not so wide; black markings onouter web of outermost long rectrix smaller; postocular and malarstripes much narrower, the latter not reaching the bill; lower surfacepaler, spotted instead of streaked, and less heavily thus marked, withblack.Of this race we have seen seven examples, representing the followingMexican locahties:Vera Cruz.?Jaltipan; Tlacotalpam; Pasa Nueva.DRYOBATES SCALARIS PERCUS, new subspecies.Chars, suhsp.?Similar to Dryohates scalaris ridgwayi, but larger;lower surface paler and much more heavily spotted with black; upperparts darker, the wliite bars much narrower, the black bars wider;postocular and malar stripes somewhat broader; spots of black onwhite portion of outer vane of outermost long rectrix (the second)averaging larger, inclining sometunes to bars.Description.?Type, adult male. No. 193906, U.S.N.M., BiologicalSurvey collection; Comitan, Chiapas, Mexico, April 15, 1904; E. W.Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Crown and nape black, the feathers ofthe former subterminally dull white, terminally poppy red, this pro-ducing a mottled effect on the top of the head, but merging into asolid band of red on the occiput and anterior hind neck; remainderof upper parts black, all, excepting the superior tail-coverts, barredwith white?these white bars narrower than the black interspaces;tail black, the three outer pairs of feathers, including the dwarfedexterior one, much barred with dull wliite, excepting on basal portionof inner webs of the second and third, the black interspaces on theouter vanes often reduced to spots, particularly on basal part; thefourth pair irregularly and broadly margined with white on outervanes; wings black, with numerous spots of white, which, on tertials,become fairly well-defined bars; sides of head and neck deep brownish
1 Three specimens, from the same State.
NO. 1847. THE LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS?0BERH0L8ER. 145white; a postociilar and a malar stripe of black, which meet on theside of the neck, the malar stripe, however, more or less obsolete atbase of bill; nasal tufts and lower surface pale smoky b^o^^^lish, thechin, sides, flanks, and crissum decidedly whitish; sides and middleof breast and sides of body heavily spotted wdth black; flanks andcrissum barred with the same; lining of wing white, spotted withblack.Measurements.?Male:^ Wing, 94-99 (average, 96.5) mm.; tail,
; exposed culmen, 17.5-20 (18.8); tarsus, 17; middle toe, 11.5-12.5 (12).Female: 2 Wmg, 90-94.5 (92.3); tail, ; exposed cuhnen, 16.5-18(17.3), tai-sus, 16-17 (16.5); middle toe, 11.5-12 (11.8).Type-locality.?Comitan, Cliiapas, Mexico.Geographical distnhution.?Southern Chiapas, Mexico: north toComitan and Tuxtla Gutierrez, south central Chiapas; east to SanVicente, southeastern Chiapas; and west to Tuxtla Gutierrez.This form is easily to b^ separated from Dryohates scalaris hairdiby its greatly inferior size; narrower postocular and malar stripes;more restricted black bars on upper parts; lighter lower surface, whichis more heavily marked with spots?not streaks^of black.Only four birds examined, from the subjoined Mexican localities:Chiapas.?Comitan; San Vicente; Tuxtla Gutierrez.DRYOBATES SCALARIS PARVUS (Cabot).Picus parvus Cabot, Bopton Journ. Nat. Hist., vol. 5, 1845, p. 92.Picus vagatus Cassin, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1863, p. 196 ("Mexico;"i. e., Yucatan).Chars, suhsp.?Resemblmg Dryohates scalaris percus, but decidedlysmaller; postocular and malar stripes wider, the latter always reach-ing bill; black bars on back rather narrower; primary coverts withsomewhat less white; and lower parts less heavily spotted.Measurements.?Male:^ Wing, 87-92 (average, 89.1) mm.; tail,46-53.5 (48.4); exposed culmen, 18-20.5 (19.4); tarsus, 15-17 (16.3);middle toe, 11-12.5 (11.5).Female:* Wing, 86-89.5 (87); tail, 46-49 (47.3); exposed culmen,16-18 (16.9); tarsus, 15.5-16.5 (15.9); middle toe, 11-12 (11.5).Type locality.?Ticul, Yucatan, Mexico.Geographical distribution.?Northern Yucatan, Mexico: north toProgreso, San Felipe, and La Vega; east to Cozumel Island, coastof northeastern Yucatan; south to Cliichen Itza, north central Yuca-tan; west to Merida, northwestern Yucatan.This well-marked subspecies differs greatly from Dryohates scalarishairdi, for it is much smaller; has paler upper parts, since the black
1 Two specimens, from the State of Chiapas, Mexico. * Ten specimens, from Yucatan, Mexico.
* Two specimens, from the same State. * Six specimens, from the same State.94428??Proc.N M.vol.41?11 10
146 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.41.bars are decidedly narrower; less broad black tail-bars, on theoutermost long rectrix particularly; the lower surface of body muchlighter, more heavily marked on breast and sides, spotted, insteadof streaked, with black. It may be distinguished from Dryohatesscalaris scalaris by its smaller size, rather darker upper surface, theblack bars being somewhat broader, the white bars narrower; widerpostocular and malar stripes, the latter extending to the bill; andpaler under parts, more heavily spotted with black.So far as known, this race is confined to northern Yucatan, butits range may be extended by future explorations.The bird described by Cassin as Picus vagatus,^ from "Mexico,"is the same as the Yucatan race. This Mr. Witmcr Stone has kindlydetermined by an examination of the type in the collection of thePhiladelphia Academy of Sciences and a comparison with typicalexamples of Drijohates scalaris ridgwayi and Dryohates scalaris 'parvus.Mr. Stone furnishes the following measurements of the type: Wing,88; tail, 54; exposed culmen, 18; tarsus, J4.5 mm.Specimens examined, 24, from Mexican localities as under:Yucatan.?La Vega; Chichen Itza; Progreso; Merida; Temax: SanFelipe; Tekanto; west of Tunkas.DRYOBATES SCALARIS LEUCOPTILURUS, new subspecies.Cliars. suhsp.?Like Dryohates scalaris parvus, but still smaller;lower surface much darker, but somewhat less heavily spotted;outer webs of second (the first long) pair of rectrices without barsbasally; black bars on upper parts rather narrower and more irregu-lar; primary coverts with rather less white on outer webs.Description.?Type, adult male, No. 252.54, Carnegie Museum;Pine Ridge, near Manatee Lagoon, British Honduras; October 26,1905; Morton E. Peck. CrowTi and nape black, the feathers of theformer subterminally dull white, termmally poppy red, this pro-ducing a mottled effect on the top of the head, but merging intoa solid band of red on the occiput and anterior hind neck; remainingupper parts black, all, excepting the superior tail-coverts, barredwith white, these white bars somewhat wider than the black inter-spaces; tail black, the three outer pairs of feathers, including thedwarfed outermost one, barred with white except on basal portionof inner webs of the second and third, but the outer vanes of thesecond (the first long pair) and third almost wholly white basally;the fourth pair largely white on distal half of outer vanes; wingsblack, with numerous spots of white, which, on the tertials andsome of the inner long wing-coverts, become fairly well-defined bars;sides of head and neck pale smoky brownish; a broad postocularand a malar stripe of black, which meet on the side of the neck;
? Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1863, p. 196.
NO. 1S47. THE LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS?0BERII0L8ER. 147
nasal tufts and ventral surface of body smoky bro^vn, the chin andcrissum paler; sides and middle of breast and sides of body heavilyspotted with black; the flanks and crissum barred with the same;lining of wing brownish white, spotted with black; "iris brownishrod; bill dark bluish; feet greenish blue."Measurements.?Mole: ^ Wing, 85-88.5 (average, 86.8) mm.; tail,43-48.5 (45.8); exposed culmen, 18-19 (18.5); tarsus, 16.5; middletoe, 11.5-12 (11.8).Female:^ Wing, 84; tail, 44; exposed culmen, 16.5; tarsus, 15;middle toe, 11.5.Type-locality.?Pine Ridge, near Manatee Lagoon, central easternBritish Honduras.Geographical distribution.?Southeastern British Honduras; northto Manatee Lagoon, central eastern British Honduras; south toYcacos Lagoon.This is the most diminutive of all the races of Dryohates scalaris,and seems to be very restricted in distribution. The series availableis small, but the differences that these binls show, coupled withtheir isolated habitat, seem to warrant subspecific recognition.Four examples seen, from the localities below:British Honduras.?Ycacos Lagoon; Pine Ridge near ManateeLagoon. DRYOBATES SCALARIS AZELUS, new subspecies.Chars, suhsp.?^fuch like Dryohates scalaris leucoptilurus, but ofdecidedly greater size; lower parts lighter; postocular and malarstripes somewhat narrower, the latter not reaching the bill ; less blackon the outer long tail-feathers, particularly on the exterior webs.Description.?Type, adult male, No. 185060, U.S.N.M., BiologicalSurvey collection; La Salada, Michoacan, March 19, 1903; E. W.Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Crown and nape black, the feathers ofthe former subterminally dull wlute, terminally scarlet vermilion,tliis producing a mottled effect on the top of the head, but merginginto a solid band of red on the occiput and anterior hind neck;remaining upper parts black, all, excepting the superior tail-coverts,barred with wliite?these white bars narrower than the black inter-spaces; tail black, the three outer pairs of feathers, including thedwarfed outermost one, barred broadly ^^^th white, except on basalportion of inner webs of the second and third, but the outer vanesof the second (the first long pair) and third wholly white basally;the fourth pair distally barred with white, and broadly margined onmedian portion of outer webs with white ; wings black, with numer-ous spots of white (except on primary coverts, alula, and some of thelesser coverts), wliich, on tertials and some of the inner long upper
1 Two specimens, from British Honduras. ' One specimen, from the same country.
148 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.41.wing-coverts, become well-defined bars; sides of head and neck deepbrownish white; a black postocular and a black malar stripe, whichmeet on the side of the neck, the malar stripe, however, obsoleteanteriorly; nasal tufts and lower surface light smoky brown, thechin, abdomen, flanks, and crissum wliitish; sides and middle ofbreast, and sides of body heavily spotted with black; the flanks andcrissum barred with the same; hning of wing brownish white, spottedwith black.Measurements.?Male: ^ Wing, 92 mm.; tail, 48.5; exposed cul-men, 18.8; tarsus, 15.5; middle toe, 11.Type-locality.?La Salada, Michoacan, Mexico.Geographical distribution.?Southern Mexico: west to La Salada,central western Michoacan; north to Chietla, southwestern Puebla;east to Tlacolula and Oaxaca, west central Oaxaca; south to Sola,southwestern Oaxaca, and Amula, central Guerrero.This form is supei-ficially much like Dryohates scalaris sinaloensis,but differs in its smaller size; spotted instead of streaked breast andsides, these parts more heavUy marked; lighter under surface; andsomewhat less wliite on outer webs of primary coverts.Curiously enough, this new form much more closely resemblesDryohates scalaris leucoptilurus from British Honduras, and Dryohatesscalaris sinaloensis, from Sinaloa, Mexico, than it does any of thegeographically adjoining races. Although only the type has beenavailable for examination in this connection, tliis example is sodifferent from Dryohates scalaris centropMlus, from Jahsco,^ Drijohatess. hairdi from Hidalgo and Mexico, Dryohates scalaris ridgwayi, fromVera Cruz, and Dryohates scalaris percus, from Chiapas, that itdeserves separation. Another specimen, from Chietla, Puebla, wasexamined by Mr. Ridgway a number of years ago,^ and he is nowconvinced that it should be referred to this race, an impression borneout by liis printed remarlcs on tliis bird.* The present species(Dryohates scalaris) has been recorded from localities in the States ofGuerrero and Oaxaca,^ and these States, without much doubt, shouldbe included in the range of this form.DRYOBATES SCALARIS GRAYSONI (Baird).Picas scalaris, var. graysoni Baird, in Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway, Hist. NorthAmer. Birds, Land Birds, vol. 2, 1874, pp. 501, 517.Chars, suhsp.?Resembling Dryohates scalaris azelus, but decidedlylarger; under surface paler, and much less heavily spotted, some-times streaked, with black; postocular and malar stripes wider;
1 One specimen, the type, from the State of Michoacan, Mexico.2 See p. 157.? Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 9, 1886, p. 159.< Ibid.6 Hargitt, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. 18, 1890, p. 249.
NO. 1847. THE LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS?0BERH0L8ER. 149black bars on outer long tail-feathers wider; black bars on upperparts broader.Measurements.?Male:^ Wing, 95-99 (average, 97.7) mm.; tail,51-57 (54.5); exposed culmen, 20.5-23 (22.1); tarsus, 16.5-18(17.4); middle toe, 12.5-13.5 (12.9).Female:- Wing, 92-98 (95); tail, 49-56 (53.6); exposed culmen,18.5-20 (19.3); tarsus, 16.5-17.5 (17); middle toe, 11.5-12.5 (12).Type-locality.?Tres Marias Islands, Tepic, Mexico.Geographical distribution.?Tres Marias' Islands, Tepic, Mexico.The present race differs from Dryohates scalaris lucasanus in smallersize; in having the outer webs of primary coverts usually withoutwhite spots, never with large ones; postocidar stripe rather broader;malar stripe obsolete, or nearly so, at base of bill ; and sides of breastless hea\aly spotted.The original citation of this subspecies is sometimes given as
"Lawrence, Mem. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 2, 1874, p. 294;" buthere only a nomeri nudum is found.Of tliis race we have handled altogether 14 specimens, all from theTres Marias Islands, Tepic, Mexico, and most of them from MariaMadre Island. DRYOBATES SCALARIS SINALOENSIS Ridgway.Dryohates scalaris sinaloensis Ridgway, Man. North Amer. Birds, 1887, p. 285.Chars, subsp.?Similar to Dryohates scalaris graysoni, but smaller;lower surface much darker, the sides of the breast always streaked,instead of spotted, and more conspicuously thus marked, with black;black bars on upper parts and on tail narrower; postocular striperather narrower; outer webs of primary coverts with somewhatmore white.Measurements.?Male:^ Wing, 94-95 (average, 94.5) mm.; tail,43.5-53 (48.4); exposed culmen, 19-21.5 (20.3); tarsus, 16.5-17(16.8); middle toe, 12-13 (12.6).Female:^ Wmg, 93-96 (94.6); tail, 53.5-55.5 (54.5); exposed cul-men, 17.5-19 (18.2); tarsus, 16-17 (16.3): middle toe, 11-12.5(11.8).Type-locality.?Near Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico.Geographical distribution.?Southern and central Sinaloa, Mexico:north to Culiacan, central Sinaloa; west to Mazatlan; south toPlomosas; east to Juan Lisiarraga Mountain, southeastern Sinaloa.Specimens exammed, 11, from the subjoined localities in westernMexico
:
Sinaloa.?Mazatlan; near Mazatlan; Culiacan; Plomosas; JuanLisiarraga Mountain.
1 Nine specimens, from the Tres Marias Islands, Tepic, Mexico.2 Four specimens, from the same islands.
' Four specimens, from the State of Sinaloa, Mexico.
* Five specimens, from the same State.
150 PR0CEEDIN08 OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.41.DRYOBATES SCALARIS AGNUS, new subspecies.Cliars. suhsp.?Like Dryohates scalaris sinaloensis, but decidedlylarger; back and scapulars darker, the black bars wider, the whitebars narrower; malar strii)e not obsolete at base of bill, thoughsometimes obsolescent; black bars on outer tail-feathers usuallywider; streaks on sides of breast rather broader.Description.?Type, adult male, No. 164107, U.S.N.M.. BiologicalSurvey collection; Camoa, Rio Mayo, Sonora, November 6, 1898;E. A. Goldman. Crown and nape black, the feathers of the formersubterminally dull white, terminally poppy red, this producing amottled appearance on the top of the head, but merging into a solidband of red on the occiput and anterior hind neck; remaming upperparts black, all, excepting the superior tail-coverts, barred with white
?
these white bars decidedly narrower than the black interspaces;tail black, the three outer pairs of rectrices, including the dwarfedoutermost one, barred with white except on basal portion of innerwebs of the third pair, but the outer vanes of the second (the first longpair) and third wholly white basally; the fourth pair tipped, andbroadly margined on distal two-thirds of outer vanes, with wdiite;wings black, with numerous white spots, which, on the tertials,become fairly well-defined bars; sides of head and neck rather lightsmoky brown; a broad postocular and a malar stripe of black,which meet on the side of the neck; nasal tufts and lower surfacesmoky brown, the crissum paler; sides of breast and body with broadstreaks of black, the flanks and crissum with bars of the same;lining of wing brownish white, spotted with black.Measurements.?Male^: Wmg, 100-101.5 (average, 100.8) mm.;tail, 58-59.5 (58.8); exposed culmen, 20-23 (21.5); tarsus, 17;middle toe, 13.Female:- Wing, 95-98.5 (96.8); tail, 56.5-60.5 (58.5); exposedculmen, 19.5-20 (19.8); tarsus, 16-16.5 (16.3); middle toe, 12.Type-locality.?Camoa, Rio Mayo, Sonora.Geographical distribution.?Southern Sonora, Mexico: northwest toBatamotal, southwestern Sonora; and southeast to Camoa, south-eastern Sonora.Of this race four examples have been seen, from the subjoinedMexican localities
:
Sonora.?Camoa; Batamotal.DRYOBATES SCALARIS LUCASANUS (Baird).Pimis lucasanusBAiR-D, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1859, p. 302 (Xantus MS.)Chars, suhsp.?Resembling Dryohates scalaris agnus, but somewhatlarger; lower surface much lighter, and the sides of breast spotted,rarely streaked; black bars on upper parts decidedly broader; white
> Two specimens, from soutliem Sonora, Mexico. ^ Two specimens, from the same locality.
NO. 1847. THE LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS?OBERHOLSER. 151bars on wings averaging narrower; and spots on outer webs of pri-mary coverts usually much larger.Measurements.?Male:^ Wing, 100-105 (average 102) mm.; tail,60.5-66 (63); exposed culmen, 23.5-25 (24.5); tarsus, 18.5-19.5(19.1); middle toe, 13-14.5 (14).Female: - Wing, 95-102 (99.2); tail, 57-69 (63.8); exposed culmen,19-22 (20.5); tarsus, 17-18 (17.7); middle toe, 12.5-13 (12.8).Type-locality.?Cape San Lucas, Lower California.Geographical distribution.?Southern and central Lower California,Mexico: north to Rosarito, north central Lower California; south toCape San Lucas.Of this subspecies I have seen 47 examples, representing thelocalities below
:
Lower California.? San Ignacio; Cape San Lucas; La Laguna;Rosarito; Santo Domingo ; Miraflores; San Jose del Cabo; TodosSantos; Pescadero (10 miles south of Todos Santos); SantaAnita; El Cajoncito; San Francisco Mountains.DRYOBATES SCALARIS EREMICUS, new subspecies.Chars, suhsp.?Similar to Dryobates scalaris lucasanus, but larger;lower surface darker; upper parts darker, the white bars on backaveraging narrower and less regular, the black bars wider; black barson posterior lower parts averaging somewhat wider.Description.?Type, adult male, No. 196255, U.S.N.M., BiologicalSurvey collection; San Fernando, Lower Cahfornia, Mexico, Sep-tember 4, 1905; E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Crown and napeblack, the feathers of the former subterminally dull white, terminallypoppy red, this producing a mottled effect on the top of the head,but merging into a solid band of red on the occiput and anteriorhind neck; remaining upper parts black, all, excepting the superiortail-coverts, barred with white?these white bars decidedly nar-rower than the black interspaces; tail black, the three outer pairsof feathers, including the dwarfed outermost one, barred with white,except on basal portion of inner w^ebs of the third pair, but the outervanes of the second (the first long pair) and third wholly whitebasally; the fourth pair irregularly barred with white on terminalportion of both webs, and outer vanes broadly margined with whitefor most of the rest of their length; wings black, with numerous spotsof white, w^hich, on tertials and some of the large upper wing-coverts,become fairly well-defined bars; sides of head and neck lightsmoky brown, the superciliary stripe paler; a broad postocular anda malar stripe of black, which meet on the side of the neck; nasaltufts and under surface light smoky brown; the lower abdomenand crissum decidedly whitish, in rather abrupt contrast; sides of
1 Ten specimens, from southern Lower California. ^ Ten specimens, from the same locality.
152 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.41.breast and body with spots of black, the flanks and crissum with barsof the same; Hning of wing white, sparingly spotted with black.Measurements.?Male:^ Wing, 104-111 (average, 106.6) mm.;tail, 64-72 (68); exposed culmen, 24-28.5 (26.9); tarsus, 19.5-21(20.4); middle toe, 13-15 (14).Female: 2 Wing, 98.5-104.5 (101.4); tail, 66-67.5 (66.9); exposedculmen, 22.5-25.5 (23.9); tarsus, 17.5-19.5 (18.9); middle toe, 13-14(13.4).Type-locality.?San Fernando, Lower California.Geografliical distribution.?North central and northwestern LowerCalifornia: north to Nachoguero Valley, northwestern Lower Cali-fornia; northeast to 45 miles east of San Quintin; south to Ubaiand Playa Maria Bay, north central Lower California.Specimens examined, 29, from the places that follow:Lower California.?Ensenada; Ubai; San Fernando; E-osario;San Simon River, near San Quintin; 45 miles east of San Quintin;San Telmo; Playa Maria; Playa Maria Bay; Rancho Layla;Nachoguero Valley.DRYOBATES SCALARIS CACTOPHILUS. new subspecies.Chars, suhsp.?Much like Dryobates scalaris eremicus, but smaller,particularly the tail and bill; lower surface lighter, laterally almostalways streaJced with black; upper parts lighter?the black barson back and scapulars narrower; wing-quills with larger spots andbroader bars of white; outer long rectrices with exterior websbarred throughout with black; black bars on posterior lower surfacenarrower.Description.?Type, adult male. No. 119415, U.S.N.M.; Tucson,Ai'izona, November 30, 1890; P. L. Jouy. Crown and nape black,the feathers of the former subterminally white, terminally scarletvermilion, this producing a mottled effect on the top of the head,but merging into a solid band of red on the occiput and anteriorhind neck; rest of upper surface of body black, all, excepting thesuperior tail-coverts, barred with white?these white bars rathernarrower than the black interspaces; tail black, the three outerpairs of feathers, including the dwarfed outermost one, barredthroughout with white, the fourth pair barred with white on terminalportion of inner webs and on all but a small basal part of outer webs;wings black, much spotted with white, this forming, on tertials andlonger wing-coverts, fairly well-defined bars; sides of head and neckpale brownish, with a postocular and a malar stripe of black, whichmeet on the side of the neck; nasal tufts and lower surface dulllight smoky brownish, more whitish on lower abdomen and crissum;the sides of breast and body with spots and some streaks of black, the
1 Ten specimens, from northern Lower California. ? Five specimens, from the same locality.
NO. 1847. THE LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS?OBERHOLSER. 153flanks and crissum with bars of the same; lining of wing white, withspots of black.Measurements.?Male:* Wing, 102-109 (average, 105.1) mm.; tail,57.5-68 (61.9); exposed culmen, 21.5-24.5 (23.1); tarsus, 18-19.5(18.9); middle toe, 12.5-14 (13.2).Female :2 Wing, 97-104.5 (100.6); tail, 56-63.5 (59.7); exposedculmen, 17.5-22 (19.6); tarsus, 16-18.5 (17.1); middle toe, 11.5-13(12.3).Type-locality.?Tucson, Arizona.Geographical distnhution.?Southwestern United States and north-western. "Mexico : w^est to Guaymas, southwestern Sonora; CocopahMajor Mountains and Gardners Laguna on Salton River, north-eastern Lower California; Vallecito, Riverside, and Hesperia, south-western Cahfornia; north to Victorville, southwestern California;eastern base of Charleston Mountains, and Vegas Wash, southernNevada ; Santa Clara, southwestern Utah ; Beaverdam, northwesternArizona; Camp Verde and Holbrook, central Arizona; Glenwood,southwestern New Mexico; Abiquiu, middle northern New Mexico;Corona, central New Mexico; and Santa Rosa, central eastern NewMexico; east to Montoya, Fort Sumner, and the Guadalupe Moun-tains, eastern New ^lexico; Fort Da\4s and Tornillo Creek, centralwestern Texas ; south to the Chisos Mountains, central western Texas
;
Rio Sestin, northwestern Dm'ango; Nacori, south central Sonora;Guaymas, southwestern Sonora; and Colony (Colorado River),northeastern Lower California.From Dryohates scalaris hairdi this form differs in its much lessdeeply smoky under surface, sometimes \\dth lateral black spots(always streaks in D. s. hairdi) ; lighter upper parts?tlie black barsnarrower, the white bars broader, the pileum vnth more white;wider white -bars on wings; larger white spots on remiges; and muchlarger white spots on outer webs of primary coverts. It may bedistinguished from Dryohates scalaris scalai'is by its much greater sizepaler lower surface, which has usually streaks on breast and sides,insteacl of only spots, and these markings of black heavier; broaderblack bars on upper parts; larger white spots and broader whitebars on remiges ; wider postocular and malar stripes, the latter ex-tending quite to the base of the bill ; and more extensive white spotson the outer webs of the primary coverts.The birds from northwestern Durango are somewhat smaller anddarker than those from Arizona^ and verge thus toward Dryohatesscalaris centrophilus,^ but seem to be nearer the present form. Ex-amples from Nacori and Bacadehuachy, central Sonora, are smalland dark, and incline thus toward Dryohates scalaris agnus, though
1 Ten specimens, from Arizona and southern Utah.
? Twenty-two speoimens, from Arizona, Sonora/and northeastern Lower Califomiaj3 See p. 157.
154 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.41.in other characters they are hke Arizona specimens. In centralwestern Texas the birds are as small as Dryohates scalaris symplectus,^but in color are just like D. s. cactopMlus, so, since color is the mostreliable distinction between these two forms, these intermediatesbelong with the latter.Birds from New Mexico and Chihuahua are likewise slightly smallerthan those from Arizona. In northeastern Lower California and insouthern California north to Palm Springs and Needles there occuroccasional specimens which have no black bars on the outer web ofthe outermost long rectrix, indicating intergradation with Dryohatesscalaris eremicus; and the writer himself in times past has identifiedsome of these as Dryohates scalaris lucasanus (i. e., D. s. eremicus).In the same regions, however, there are also birds with this featherfully barred; and all have tlie lighter colored upper parts and othercharacters of Dryohates scalaris cactopMlus, to which race it is nowevident that they belong. This disposition makes it necessary toexpunge Dryohates scalaris lucasanus (i. e., Dryohates scalaris eremicus)from the list of California birds.Of the present new race, 202 specimens have been seen, from thelocalities that follow:Arizona.?Beaverdam; Phoenix; Calabasas; Fort Verde; Tucson;Gila River; Oracle; Buenos AjTes (Pima County) ; La Osa (PimaCounty) ; Santa Cruz River, west of Patagonia Mountains, nearthe Mexican bomidar}^ line; Pinal County; Fort Lowell; FortWhipple ; Sturgis Well, 2 miles west of Poso Verde (Pima County)
;
Low^ell; Fort Huachuca; ITuachuca Mountains; Warsaw Mills(Pima County) ; Cochise ; Fort Yuma ; San Bernardino River atMexican boundary line; San Bernardino Ranch, Mexican boun-dary line; Santa Catalina Mountains; San Pedro, 5 miles northof Nogales; Russellville (Cochise County); Colorado River atMonument 204, Mexican boundary line; Fort Buchanan; Camp122, Kennerly and Mollhausen, on Bill Williams Fork, belowmouth of Rio Santa Maria.California.?Hesperia; Needles; Mountain ?Spring, near Mexicanboundary line (San Diego County); Wliitewater; Vallecito;Walters (Riverside County) ; La Puerta (San Diego County)Palm Springs (25 miles southeast of Bannmg) ; Mecca (RiversideCounty).New Mexico.?Albuquerque; Organ Mountains; Silver City; Cliff;Santa Rosa; Deming; Abiquiu; Apache; Fort Cummings; SanFrancisco River ; Socorro ; Hachita ; Lone Mountain ; CarrizalilloSpring; Chamberino; Redrock; western side of San Luis Moun-tains; Los Pinos; Dry Canyon (Otero County); Lake Valley.
? See p. 155.
NO. 1847. THE LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS?OBERHOLSER. 155Texas.?Fort Davis; El Paso; Presidio County; Davis Mountains,20 miles southwest of Toyahvale; Chisos Mountains; Fort Han-cock; mouth of Tornillo Creek (near Boquillas); 25 miles southof Ali)ine.Z7toA.?Santa Clara.Ohikuahua.?Colonia Diaz; Colonia Juiirez; Casas Grandes; SanDiego; Chihuahua City; Boca Grande.Durango.?Cienega de las Vacas; Rio vSestin; l^as Bocas; RanchoBaillon; Rosario.Lower California.?Gardners Laguna, Salton River; Cocopah MajorMountains; Colony, lower Colorado River; lower Colorado River,above Colony.Sonora.?Magdalena; Bacadehuachy; Sonoyta, 1 mile south ofNogales; Poso de Luis; Colorado River, below Colonia Diaz;Oputo; Nacori; Guaymas; Santa Cruz.DRYOBATES SCALARIS SYMPLECTUS, new subspecies.Chars, suhsp.?Resembhng Dryohates scalaris cactopliilus, but malesmaller; upper parts lighter, the white bars wider, the black barsnarrower, and vnth. more wliite on pileum; and sides of breast lessoften strealied (mostly spotted).Descnption.?Type, adult male. No. 140730, U.S.N.M., BiologicalSurvey collection; mouth of Nueces River, Texas, November 21,1891; William Lloyd. Crown and nape black, the feathers of theformer subterminally white, terminally scarlet vermiHon, this pro-ducing a mottled appearance on the top of the head, but merginginto a solid band of red on the occiput and anterior hind neck; rest ofupper surface of body black, all, except superior tail-coverts, broadlybarred with wliite?these white bars broader than the black inter-spaces; tail black, the three outer pairs of feathers, including thedwarfed outermost one, barred throughout \xiih. wliite; the fourthpair barred terminally on inner vane, and for distal half on outer vane,and spotted on basal part of outer vane, \vith wliite; \\dngs black,much spotted with wliite, this forming, on tertials and some longerwing-coverts, fairly well-defuied bars; sides of head and neck brown-ish white, with a postocular and a malar stripe of black, which meeton the side of the neck; nasal tufts and lower surface dull light brown-ish, the sides of breast and body vdt\\ spots of black, the flanks andcrissum with bars of the same; lining of wing white, Avdth spots ofblack.Measurements.?Male:^ Wing, 98-107 (average, 102.3) mm;; tail,53.5-60.5 (56.9); exposed culmen, 20-24 (22.4); tarsus, 16-18.5) 17.7);middle toe, 12-13.5 (12.6).
1 Eighteen specimens, from Texas, Tamaulipas, and Nuevo Leon.
156 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.41.Female :i Wing, 96.5-105 (100.4); tail, 52.5-60.5 (56.9); exposedculmen, 18-21 (20.3); tarsus, 16.5-18.5 (17.3); middle toe, 11-13(12.1).Type-locality.?Mouth of Nueces River, Texas.Geographical distribution.?Middle southern United States andnortheastern Mexico: south to Calhoun County, southeastern Texas;Xicotencatl, southern Tamauhpas; and Monterey, central westernNuevo Leon; west to Santa Catarina, central western Nuevo Leon;Sabinas, northeastern Coahuila; Samuels, Fort Lancaster, GrandFalls, Gail, and Tascosa, western Texas; and Saint Charles Canyon,southeastern Colorado; north to Swink, southeastern Colorado;McClellan Creek (Gray County), Vernon, and Gainesville, northernTexas; east to Springfield, southeastern Colorado; Smith Countyand Houston, eastern Texas; San Fernando de Presas, and Soto laMarina, eastern Tamaulipas.Tliis new subspecies differs from Dryohates scalaris hairdi, fromHidalgo, much as does Dryohates scalaris cactopTiilus, except that itis smaller, and still more extensively white on all the upper parts.This race reaches its extreme development in Texas; and specimensfrom central Tamaulipas and central Nuevo Leon are not so lightabove, showing a tendency toward Dryohates scalaris hairdi. Theyare also somewhat more smoky below. There is, however, no differ-ence in size between examples from Texas and Tamaulipas.Of this form, 170 specimens have been examined, the followinglocalities being represented:Colorado.?Saint Charles Canyon (Pueblo County).Texas.?Mouth of Pecos River; Eagle Pass; Dan Diego; Vernon;Kerrville; Samuels; Seguin; 7 miles west of Camp Verde; RioGrande City; Cameron County; mouth of Devils River; Blocker'sranch, San Lorenzo Creek (Dimmitt County); Langtry; DelRio; Colorado; Fort Clark; Brownsville; San Antonio; Laredo;Boerne; Concho County; Eastland; Lomita; Nueces River;Comanche County; Cisco; Corpus Christi; Hidalgo; Brownwood;Dallas; Leon Springs; Mud Creek (Val Verde County); AransasRiver; Santa Maria; Bexar County; Kendall County; mouth ofNueces River; Uvalde; Coleman County.CoaTiuila.?Sabinas.Nuevo Leon.?Rodriguez; Santa Catarina; Monterey; San JuanRanch; Boquillo.Tamaulipas.?Forlon; Villagran; Soto la Marina; Mier; Camargo;Matamoros; Xicotencatl; Rio del Pilon; Victoria; San Fernandode Presas.
1 Nineteen specimens, from Texas and Tamaulipas.
NO. 1847. THE LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS?OBERROLSER. 157DRYOBATES SCALARIS CENTROPHILUS, new subspecies.Chars, suhsp.?Similar to Dryobates scalaris symplectus, but billshorter; lower surface darker, laterally always streaked with black;also sides of head and neck more deeply smoky; upper parts muchdarker, the wliite bars decidedly narrower, the black ones broader;wliite bars on wing-quills much narrower, the white spots muchsmaller, and with less white on pileum ; outer webs of primary covertswith much smaller spots of wliite.Description.?Ty^e, adult male. No. 155991, U.S.N.M., BiologicalSurvey collection; Ameca, JaUsco, Mexico, March 3, 1897; E. W.Nelson and E. A. Goldman. Crown and nape black, the feathers ofthe former subterminally white, terminally scarlet vermilion, thisproducing a mottled effect on the top of the head, but merging intoa solid band of red on, the occiput and anterior hind neck; rest ofupper body surface black, all, except the superior tail-coverts, barredwith white?these white bars decidedly narrower than the blackinterspaces; tail black, the three exterior pairs of feathers, includingthe dwarfed outermost one, barred throughout with white except onbasal portion of inner web of third pair; the fourth pair barred onmost of outer vane and on terminal portion of inner vane with white;wings black, much spotted with wliite, this forming, on tertials andlonger wing-coverts, fairly well-defined bars; sides of head and neckpale browTiish, with a postocular and a malar stripe of black, whichmeet on the side of the neck; nasal tufts and entire under parts ratherlight smoky brown, the lower abdomen and crissum whitish; the sidesof breast and body with streaks of black; the flanks and crissum withbars of the same; lining of wing white, with spots of black.Measurements.?Male:^ Wing, 100-105 (average, 102.4) mm.;tail, 56-63.5 (57.7); exposed culmen, 19.5-23 (20.9); tarsus, 16.5-17.5(17.1); middle toe, 11.5-13 (12.3).Female :2 Wing, 97-103.5 (99.6); tail, 54-62.5 (56.9); exposedculmen, 16.5-18 (17.5); tarsus, 16-17 (16.4); middle toe. 10.5-12(11.4).Type-locality.?Ameca, Jalisco, Mexico.Geographical distribution.?Central western Mexico: north to Du-rango, southern Durango; east to San Juan Capistrano, central west-ern Zacatecas; Bolanos, northern Jalisco; Ocotlan, central easternJalisco; and Patamban, northwestern Michoacan; south to Uruapam,northwestern Michoacan; and Sierra Nevada de Colima, southernJalisco; west to near Mascota, western Jalisco; and Arroyo de Javilan,southern Tepic.
' Six specimens, from the Mexican States of Jalisco, Zacatecas, and southern Durango.2 Seven specimens, from the Mexican States of Jalisco and Michoacan.
158 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.41.From Bryohates scalaris cactopMlus this form may be distinguishedby smaller size; more deeply colored ventral surface, with only streaks(no spots) on the sides of the breast; darker upper parts, the whitebars slightly narrower, the black ones somewhat broader; andsmaller white spots on outer webs of primary coverts. It differs fromBryohates scalaris sinaloensis in its much greater dimensions; lighterunder surface; entirely black-barred outer web of outermost longrectrix; wider postocular and malar stripes, the latter not obsoleteat base of bill ; somewhat broader black bars on upper parts; and widerblack bars on the tail-feathers. Compared to Bryohates scalarisazelus, it is very much larger; has the outer web of outermost longrectrix barred throughout with black; the breast and sides streaked,instead of spotted, but less heavily thus marked; wider postocularand malar stripes, the latter always extending to the base of the bill;somewhat broader black bars above; and somewhat more white onouter webs of primary coverts. It may be separated from Bryohatesscalaris scalaris by its decidedly greater size; streaked instead of spot-ted, and more heavily thus marked sides of breast; broader blackbars on upper surface; wider postocular and malar stripes, the latternot obsolete at the base of the bill.Specimens from La Pisagua, Jalisco, are of the same size as thepresent form, but are more extensively white above, and in this, aswell as other respects, appear to be somewhat intermediate betweenBryohates s. centropMlus and Bryohates s. azelus, though nearer, ofcourse, to the former. Birds from Aguas Calientes^ we have not seen,and they may belong to either Bryohates scalaris centropMlus or Bry-ohates scalaris hairdi.Eighteen examples have been available, from the Mexican locali-ties below:Burango.?Durango
.
Jalisco.?Atemajac (north of Guadalajara) ; Ocotlan; Ameca; LaPisagua; Las Canoas; Guadalajara.Michoacan.?Patamban; Uruapam.Tepic.?Arroyo de Gavilan (near Amatlan).Zacatecas.?San Juan Capistrano.DRYOBATES SCALARIS BAIRDI (Malherbe).Picus hairdi Malherbe, Mon. Picidees, vol. 1, 1861, p. 118, pi. 27, figs. 7, 8(SclaterMS.).Chars, suhsp.?Resembling Bryohates scalaris centropMlus, butsomewhat larger; ventral surface darker; black bars on the backbroader; and postocular stripe wider.Measurements.?Male:^ Wing, 102-107.5 (average, 104.4) mm.;tail, 56-62.5 (60.1); exposed culmen, 20-23.5 (22.1); tarsus, 17-18.5(17.7); middle toe, 12-14 (12.7).
1 Hargitt, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. IS, 1890, p. 248.2 Seven specimens, from the Mexican States of Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Coahuila, and San Luis Potosi.
NO. 1847. THE LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS?OBERHOLSER. 159Female:^ Wing, 97.5-103 (101.7); tail, 57-62 (59.8); exposedculmen, 19.5-20.5 (20); tarsus, 16-17 (16.8); middle toe, 12-13(12.3).Type-locality.?"Mexico": i, e., the State of Hidalgo.Geographical distribution.?Central Mexico : north to Jaral, southernCoahuila; east to La Ventura, southeastern Coahuila; Pachuca, south-ern Hidalgo; and Chalchicomula, central eastern Puebla; south toPuebla and Atlixco, central western Puebla; and Mexico City, east-ern Mexico (State); west to Silao, southwestern Guanajuato; Ahua-lulco, southwestern San Luis Potosi; and Cedros, northeasternZacatecas.The present subspecies may be distinguished from Dryohatesscalaris scalaris by its much greater size; darker ventral surface, withstreaks, instead of spots, on breast and sides, and these markingsheavier; darker upper surface, the black bars much wider?ofabout the same width as the white bars?the pileum with lesswhite; and broader postocular and malar stripes, the latter reachingto the bill.The birds from the Valley of Mexico, although not examined in thepresent connection, belong doubtless to this form. The Picus hairdiof Malherbe,^ described from simply "Mexico," is clearly the bird fromthe State of Hidalgo, as his description, remarks, and plate conclu-sively show, and to this we therefore restrict the name hairdi.Of this form, 13 examples have been examined, from the localitiesthat follow
:
Coahuila.?La Ventura; Carneros; Jaral.Guanajuato.?Silao.Hidalgo.?^Tula; Pachuca.Puebla.?Chalchicomula; Puente Colorado.San Luis Potosi.?Hacienda La Parada; Ahualulco.
1 Six specimens, from the States of Hidalgo, Puebla, Coahuila, and San Luis Potosi, Mexico.3 Mon. Picidges, vol. 1, 1861, p. 118, pi. 27, figs. 7, 8.

U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM PROCEEDINGS, VOL. 41 PL. 12
1. Dryobates scalaris symplect^ 13. Drvobates scalaris percus.2. Dryobates scalans cactophil 14. Dryobates scalaris leuooptilurus3. Dryobates scalaris eremicus. 15. Dryobates scalaris parvus.4. Dryobates scalaris lucasauiu

^l s. NATIONAL MUSEUM PROCEEDINGS, VOL 41 PL. 12
}; P'yobates scalaris symplectus.;;? uryobates scalaris cactophllus.i. wj'obates scalaris eremitus1- uryobatcs scalaris lucosauus.
Ranges of the Subspecies of Dryobates scalaris.6. Dryobates scalaris aKima.6. Dryobates scalaris sinalnunsla.7. Dryobates scalaris graysnni.8. Dryobates scalaris centrophilus. 9. Dryobates scalaris bairdi.10. Dryobates .scalaris scalaris.11. Drvobate.i! si'alari.s azelus.12. Dryobates scalaris rldgwayl. 13. Dryobates scalaris pcrcus.14. Dryobates scalaris IciKoptllurus.16. Dryobates scalaris parvus.