Bulletin - United States National Museum - si-pddr - Smithsonian ...

218 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
times they were rather vociferous, particularly when excited. When
alarmed they hid motionless among the limbs and remained thus for
some time. One of the specimens taken had the third toe on one
foot only partly developed with no claw, while the fourth toe on
the opposite side had a deformed claw. Yet this bird climbed with-
out difficult3^
At Tapia, Tucuman, these woodpeckers were fairly common from
April 9 (when one w^as taken) to 13, 1921. They ranged through the
scrubby forest in little bands that contained from three to six indi-
viduals, usually in the vicinity of the giant cactus that grew abundantly
in this region. Frequently they clambered about or perched
on the cacti, and holes of some small woodpecker in the cactus trunks
were attributed to this species.
An adult male, taken July 19, had the bill dull black; iris natal
brown ; tarsus and toes deep-grayish olive.
An immature male from Tapia, not wholly in adult plumage, has
the light dorsal line smokj' gray instead of white as in specimens
from Las Palmas.
LEUCONERPES CANDmUS (Otto)
Picus candidus Otto, Nat. Vog. Biiffon, vol. 23, 1796, p. 191. (Cayeune.)
This handsome woodpecker was recorded first at Las Palmas,
Chaco, on July 28, 1920, when half a dozen passed with low chattering
notes. At the Riacho Pilaga, August 12, three were seen and
collected, and others were recorded on August 21, near Fontana,
on the railroad. Two were noted at Formosa, August 23. Near
Puerto Pinasco, Paraguay, one was observed September 3, while
near Kilometer 80, west of Puerto Pinasco, they were fairly common
on September 7, 17, and 18. Three were taken on the date
last mentioned. These birds are gregarious, at least in winter, and
seem to Avander, as they were seen in flight in long looping boimds
over the open country, when their contrasted colors of black and
w^hite were sure to attract attention. When at rest they were encoun-
tered in regions of scattered trees in the savannas, or in the open,
straggling growth of palmars. Their gregariousness was marked,
and when in flight if one alighted the others came down at once to
join it, while they hovered over dead companions, or rested near by
with scolding notes. Their usual call was a drawn out kee-ee-ee or
kee-ee-ah, uttered with a mournful cadence, given with greater
vehemence when the birds were excited. When approached they had
the usual woodpecker habit of working around to the opposite side
of a tree trunk, but in some cases paid little attention to me. In
mid-September, wdth approach of the mating season, males extended
their wings above the back and then fairly danced up the tree
trunks with raised crest, mouth opened, and excited calls. In many
of their ordinary mannerisms they suggested ant-eating woodpeckers.