amily. Their nesting season is during May and June, they then resorting
to the interior of the woods, where they deposit their four to seven
glossy eggs on the bottom of holes in trees, generally at quite an
elevation from the ground. Size of eggs .85 x .60.

402a. Red-naped Sapsucker. _Sphyrapicus varius nuchalis._

Range.--Rocky Mountain region of the United States and southern Canada
south to Mexico and west to California.

This variety differs from the last, chiefly in addition of a band of
scarlet on the nape in place of the white on the Yellow-bellied species.
Coming as it does, midway between the ranges of the preceding species
and the following, this variety, with its extension of red on the head
and throat, may be regarded somewhat as a connecting link between the
two species, but it is perfectly distinct and does not intergrade with
either. There appears to be no difference in the nesting habits of the
two varieties, except that the present one, according to Bendire, shows
a preference to nesting in live aspens. The eggs measure .90 x .65.

[Illustration 256: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 255

403. RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. _Sphyrapicus ruber ruber._

Range.--Pacific Coast from Lower California to Oregon.

Except for a whitish line from the eye to the bill, the entire head,
neck and breast of this species is red, of varying shades in different
individuals, from carmine to nearly a scarlet; the remainder of their
plumage is very similar to that of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. This is
an abundant species and in most parts of the range they are not timid.
Like many of the Woodpeckers, they spend a great deal of their time in
drumming on some dead limb. They nest commonly in aspens, preferably
living ones, and are said to build a new nesting hole each year rather
than use the old. The eggs are laid during May or June, being glossy
white, five to seven in number, and measuring .90 x .70.

403a. NORTHERN RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. _Sphyrapicus ruber notkensis._

Range.--Pacific coast from California to Alaska.

404. WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER. _Sphyrapicus thyroideus._

This is a deeper and brighter variety, and is more yellowish on the
belly. Its nesting habits and eggs are the same as those of the southern
form.

Range.--Mountain ranges from the Rockies to the Pacific; north to
British Columbia.

This oddly marked species shows a surprising