SPHYROPICUS. 427 
top of the cranium, or even curving into an osseous groove round the orbit. The 
basi-hyoids supporting the tongue are shorter and differently-shaped. The tongue itself 
is short and flattened, with a superior longitudinal median groove and a corresponding 
inferior edge; the tip is broad and flattened, obtusely rounded, and with numerous long 
soft bristly hairs (Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 52). 
The peculiar food of the birds of this genus probably accounts for the modifications 
of the tongue. The chief portion of their nutriment is derived from the cambium- 
layer of trees, the soft substance lying beneath the bark. To get at this the bark is 
stripped off in patches, to the serious injury and generally the destruction of the tree. 
Besides this food the sap issuing from the injured trees is largely partaken of as well 
as insects attracted to the sap. Insects also are frequently caught in the air. 
The range of Sphyropicus is chiefly confined to North America, all the species being 
found there. WS. varius is migratory and visits Mexico, Central America, and some of 
the West-Indian Islands in winter. SS. nuchalis and S. thyroideus occur in Western 
and North-western Mexico. 
1. Sphyropicus varius. V 
The Yellow Belly’d Woodpecker, Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carol. i. p. 21, t. 21’; F. Bolles, Auk, 1891, 
p. 256°. | 
Picus varius, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 176°; Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 489*; Licht. Preis-Verz. 
mex. Vig. p. 1 (of. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 55)°; Gosse, Birds Jam. p. 270°; Scl. P.Z.S. 
1856, p. 808"; 1859, pp. 367°, 388°; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 119°; Sumichrast, La Nat. 
v. p. 240". 
Sphyrapicus varius, Baird, Birds N. Am. p. 103°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 2947; 
Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 35%; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 115%; Ferrari-Perez, Pr. 
U.S. Nat. Mus. ix. p. 159°; Herrera, La Nat. (2) i. pp. 1797”. 
Sphyropicus varius, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 186°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 205"; Baird, 
Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. Birds, ii. p. 539”; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 389”; Hargitt, 
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xviii. p. 188 ”. 
Supra niger, dorso toto sordide albo variegato, pileo medio coccineo undique nigro circumeincto, stria post- 
oculari utrinque apud nucham conjuncta sordide alba; uropygio medio albo; alis nigris, tectricibus mediis 
et majoribus late albo terminatis ; remigibus omnibus in pogoniis ambobus ad margines albo guttatis : 
subtus flavido-albus, pectore et stria utrinque malari nigris, gutture medio coccineo, stria quoque a nares 
usque ad ventrem albida, regione parotica nigricante albo variegata; hypochondriis fuscescentibus, nigro 
fasciatis ; cauda nigra, rectricibus duabus mediis in pogonio interno albis, nigro fasciatis ; rostro et pedibus 
nigricanti-plumbeis. Long. tota circa 7-5, ale 4:9, caude 3-0, rostri a rictu 1-0, tarsi 0°75, dig. med. 
absque ungue 0°56, dig. ext. 0-6. (Deser. maris ad. ex Coapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 
© mari similis, sed gutture medio albicante. 
3 juv. pectore variegato. 
© interdum pileo toto nigerrimo (an ay. juy. ?). 
Hab. North America, Eastern and Southern States, Texas 21.—Murxico (Deppe & 
Schiede°), Sierra above Ciudad Victoria (W. B. Richardson), Real del Monte 
(Bullock*, W. B. Richardson), Temiscaltepec (Bullock*), Cofre de Perote, 
54* 
