es to the Pacific coast;
from British Columbia south to Mexico.

A very oddly colored species, 11 inches in length having a dark red
face, streaked red and white under parts, a gray breast band, and glossy
greenish black upperparts. They are not uncommon in the greater part of
their range, can not be called shy birds, and nest in all kinds of trees
at heights varying from six to one hundred feet from the ground, the
five to nine white eggs measuring 1.05 x .80, and being laid during May
or June.

409. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. _Centurus carolinus._

Range.--United States east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf States
north in nearly all parts of their range, frequenting the more heavily
timbered regions, where they nest in any place that attracts their
fancy; in some localities they also commonly nest in telegraph poles.
They are quite tame, and during the winter months come about yards and
houses, the same as, and often in company with Downy Woodpeckers. Their
eggs, which are laid during May, are glossy white, average in size 1.00
x .75 and number from four to six.

[Illustration 259: Red-bellied Woodpecker.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 258

410. GOLDEN-FRONTED WOODPECKER. _Centurus aurifrons._

Range.--Mexico and southern Texas, resident.

This is also one of the "zebra" or "ladder-backed" Woodpeckers, having
the back and wings closely barred with black and white, the same as the
preceding; the forehead, nasal tufts and nape are golden yellow, and the
male has a patch of red on the crown. This is a very common resident
species in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas, where it nests in trees
or telegraph poles, sometimes so numerously in the latter situations as
to become a nuisance. Their nesting habits are not in any manner
peculiar, and the eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the
preceding. Size 1.00 x .75. Laid during April and May.

411. GILA WOODPECKER. _Centurus uropygialis._

Range.--Mexican border of the United States, in southern Arizona and New
Mexico.

Like the preceding but without any yellow on the head, the male having a
red patch in the center of the crown. They are locally distributed in
New Mexico, but appear to be abundant in all parts of southern Arizona,
where they nest principally in giant cacti, but also in many other trees
such as cotton-woods, mesquite, sycamores, etc. Besides their decided
preference for gian