194 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



promineniibus et valde inflatis; epidermideluteo-virente, valde radiata et ini- 

 cante ; margaritd dilute carneaet valde iridescente. 



Hab. Stewart's Milldam, Union County, N. Carolina, C. M. Wheatley. 



Axodonta Bealei. Testa laevi, ovato-oblonga, subinflatd. insequilaterali, pos- 

 tice subbiangulata, antice rotundata ; valvulis tenuibus ; natibus subprominenti- 

 bus, ad apices undulatis; epidermide olivacea, polita, obsolete radiata ; marga- 

 rita caeruleo-alba et iridescente. 



Hab. Leon Coimty, Texas, Lieut. Beale. 



Notes on the PICID2E, with descriptions of new and little known species, 



BY JOHN CASSIN. 



1. PICIDiE. 



Since the completion of M. Malherbe's great work on the Woodpeckers, " Mo- 

 nographic des Picide"es," the study of the birds of this family, so far as relates 

 to a very large majority of the species, is a matter of the utmost facility. In 

 the course of an examination of the species of this group in the Academy Mu- 

 seum, I have been constantly impressed with the extraordinary research ex- 

 hibited by M. Malherbe in this elaborate and complete Monograph. It must 

 be regarded as one of the most important and valuable contributions ever 

 made to Ornithological science, and is, assuredly, in comprehensive informa- 

 tion and accuracy of detail, rarely to be equalled in the present age or any 

 other. It is a model and paragon of Monographs, and a monument of pa- 

 tient research, accurate knowledge and sound judgment. 



The collection of Woodpeckers, in the Academy Museum, at present embra- 

 ces about three-fourths of the species given by M. Malherbe, and I have iden- 

 tified all the specimens of every species in the collection except those described 

 as new in this paper. The careful and usually very accurate figures of 

 females and young birds given by him, have been of great service, and I have 

 never before, in the investigation of any group, been able to thoroughly work 

 up all specimens in however obscure or incomplete plumage. The following 

 statement shows the number of species in M. Malherbe's Monograph and the 

 number in the Academy Museum, under his generic designations : 



Malh. Acad. 



Genera. Mon. Mus. 



Megapicus, Malh 14 13 (Wanting M. Sclateri, Malh.) 



Dryopicus, Malh 11 11 



' (Wanting P. mandarinus, Luciani, as- 

 similis, atratus, undosus, walensis, 

 syriacus, Wagleri, kamtschatkensis, 

 leucurus, Felieice, auritus, canicapil- 

 lus, meniscus, gymnophthalmus, kisuki, 

 pygnucus.) 

 Sphryapicus, Baird 3 3 



Picoides, Lactplde 9 6 i (Wanting P. cayennensis, undulatus, un- 



1 ( dosus.) 



Micropicus, Malh 3 3 



Dendropicus, Malh 10 8 (Wanting D. schoensis, Hemprichii.) 



Phaiopicus, Malh 9 7 (Wanting P. sordidus, jugularis.) 



{(Wanting C. Fraseri, multifasciatus, 

 ochraceus, flavicollis, semicinnamo- 

 meus, smaragdinicollis, pyrrhotis.) 



Mesopicus, Malh 25 20 1 (Wanting M.jcenionotus murinus, nigri- 



r ' I ceps, Airku, sanguinolentus.) 



[July, 



Picus, Linn 63 46 



