NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 199 



A very fine male specimen of this species in the Acad. Mus. has been la- 

 belled in Europe, " Picus trisulensis, Licht.," in a hand-writing that I do not 

 recognize. It seems to be the largest of the Asiatic group, characterized by 

 the cinereous front and small lateral spots of scarlet, but ought to be very care- 

 fully compared with P. Mitchellii, Malh., and P. auritus, Eyton, especially as 

 it is brought forward by apparently a very youthful and inexperienced de- 

 scriber, whose early training in both natural and civil history seems to have 

 been unfinished. 



9. Picus leccomelas, Boddaert. 



Picus canadensis, Gmelin. 



I am not prepared, at present, to regard this bird as identical with, or as 

 merely a larger race of Picus villosus, Linn., though given as such by Prof. 

 Baird in B. of N. Am. i. p. 84,* but am disposed to consider it a distinct species. 

 It is well figured in the folio edition of Audubon, (pi. 417, fig. 7), though the 

 bill is rather large, but the figure in his octavo edition is not recognizable. 

 Malherbe's figure (pi. 21, fig. 4) is too small, and the spots on the wings are 

 not sufficiently numerous. Picus Martina, Aud., and P. Phillipsii, And., are 

 young birds of this species. 



Audubon says of this bird: " Its notes alone suffice to distinguish it from 

 every other species, being louder and much shriller than those of Picus vil- 

 losus," (Orn. Biog. v. p. 188). Nuttall adds, " it is also less active and petu- 

 lant," (Man. Orn. v. p. 684). 



10. Picus Phillipsii, Audubon. 



This supposed species was described from a single specimen which now 

 belongs to the collection of Professor Baird of the Smithsonian Institution. 

 Mr. Audubon says, in his description, "This species is about the same size 

 as P. canadensis, which it also resembles in color, but is distinguished by the 

 yellow patch on the head and its thicker aud more pointed bill." It is un- 

 doubtedly the young of P. canadensis, as stated by Prof. Baird in B. of N. Am. 

 i. p. 86, and I quite coincide with him that the original specimen (now in my 

 possession through his kindness) presents all the peculiarities of a young 

 bird. M. Malherbe's figure (pi. xxi. fig. 5) is copied from Audubon, on the 

 authority of whom only he gives this bird as a species. 



11. Picus Martin je, Audubon. 



This is also the young of Picus canadensis, and the original specimen is in 

 the collection of Professor Baird. It is labelled " Upper Canada," and is in 

 more advanced plumage than that of P. Phillipsii, alluded to in the preceding 

 article, but is the same species, in my opinion. Mr. Audubon says, in his 

 description, (Orn. Biog. v. p. 183), "This species is very nearly allied to 

 Picus villosus, and is very similar in its colors, but differs in having the man- 

 dibles pointed, in being larger, in having the top of the head red or yellowish 

 red, and in having its fourth toe longer than the third." This bird is also 

 given by M. Malherbe as a species, on the authority of Mr. Audubon. 



12. Picus villosus, Linnaeus. 



In M. Malherbe's figure of the male of this species (pi. xxi. fig. 1) the white 

 space on the back is too large and the black edgings of the feathers denote im- 

 maturity. In the adult bird the back is clear white, the central feathers having 

 no black edges, and very nearly as represented by Audubon, (pi. 416, fig. 1, 2). 

 For all that I can see, Picus Cuvieri, Malh. (pi. xxii. fig. 3) is the young fe- 

 male of this species, and Picus Auduboni, Trudeau, the young male. 



* The proper reference to this very important work is, " Baird's Birds of North America." It 

 was mainly written and entirely arranged by Professor Baird, comparatively small parts only 

 having been contributed by Mr. 'Lawrence and myself, which are invariably designated as 

 such in the text. Those contributions are as separate and distinct, and represent our individual 

 views as exclusively as if they were in different books. Professor Baird is the author of the article 

 on the Picidie. 



1863.] 



