_Sitkensis_, in its relatively light ventral coloration, is intermediate between the extremely dark _harrisi_ and the white-breasted _monticola_. The dark-breasted type of coloration reaches its extreme development in _picoideus_ of the Queen Charlotte Islands, interposed between the ranges of _harrisi_ and _sitkensis_. Thus, while specimens of _sitkensis_ as laid out in trays may be arranged to illustrate a step between _harrisi_ and _monticola_, the geographical distribution of the several forms is not in accordance with this idea. The geographical chains appear to lie as follows: Starting with the white-breasted races of the interior of the northwest, _septentrionalis_ and _monticola_, there is an extension westward on the coast of a slightly darker breasted race, _sitkensis_. Starting again with the dark breasted type, _harrisi_, of the Puget Sound region, and going northward, we reach the extremely dark colored _picoideus_. Thus, sitkensis and _harrisi_ are really far apart genetically, and the appearance of _sitkensis_ as a seeming intergrade between _monticola_ and _harrisi_ must be explained on grounds other than those of such actual intermediate relationship. _Sitkensis_, as an offshoot of the white-breasted type of the interior, may have arrived at the humid coast at too recent date to be yet affected by its surroundings to the extent that _harrisi_ and _picoideus_ have been; or it may be more resistant to such an environment. In either case the slight modification of the clear white breast of _monticola_ produced by the humid surroundings would result in an apparent intergrade toward _harrisi_. On the habits of this subspecies, which probably do not differ materially from those of other hairy woodpeckers, I can find only the following brief comment by Joseph Dixon, quoted by Dr. Joseph Grinnell (1909): “At the three lakes back of Mole Harbor I saw more of these birds than at all other places put together. Their slow drumming sounded so similar to the clicking of a telegraph instrument that we dubbed them ‘telegraph woodpeckers’ to distinguish them from the sapsuckers.” So far as I know, the nest of this woodpecker has never been reported. It is probably resident throughout its breeding range. DRYOBATES VILLOSUS ORIUS Oberholser MODOC WOODPECKER HABITS