NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 327 



session, Mr. Duchaillu states this species to have been rarely seen on the Muni 

 and Moonda rivers, but he found it more abundant at Cape Lopez, and on the 

 River Camma. 



56. Campethera chrysuba, var. lineata, nobis. 



Several specimens of C. ckrysura (Swainson), from western and southern 

 Africa are very nearly as given by M. Malherbe, but one specimen from Port 

 Natal is different in having well defined longitudinal lines on the upper parts, 

 instead of the irregular transverse bands usually seen. The black stripes on 

 the under parts seem to be wider, but in other respects it presents no further 

 difference. Other specimens seem to present intermediate characters between 

 the Natal bird here alluded to and others from the same and other localities. 

 My conjecture is that this specimen is the fully mature bird. If this specimen 

 only was compared with a specimen as figured by M. Malherbe, it would scarcely 

 be regarded as the same species by any naturalist. 



57. Campethera pitctiligera, (Wagler.) 



There is quite considerable diversity in the markings of the upper parts in 

 this species, but they are generally, however, as given by M. Malherbe, with the 

 light spots not so large. There is in some specimens a tendency in these 

 spots to form longitudinal lines, and one female specimen has on the back 

 well-defined crescent-shaped bands on every feather. It may be that these 

 are nearly allied species confounded. 



Young tf ? Head above black without spots, occipital feathers light scarlet, 

 under parts of body with black spots larger than in adult, and forming 

 irregular transverse hands on the flanks. 



58. Melanerpes torquatcs, (Wilson.) 



Wilson's figure of the male of this species remains the most correct. 

 Audubon's figure of the male, which is copied by M. Malherbe, is greatly 

 exaggerated, no specimen having the light yellowish or fawn-colored breast 

 with black spots as represented, except that it may be a faded, worn, or im- 

 mature character, and all specimens have the tibix lustrous black. The sexes 

 are very nearly alike, but the male appears to present the red of the front and 

 cheeks rather more extended, and generally including the eye. I have never 

 seen a specimen like M. Malherbe's figure, stated to be the female, (pi. 96, 

 fig. 2), nor in fact entirely like fig. 4 of the same plate. Very fine specimens, 

 with the sexes carefully stated, were sent from Fort Tejon, California, to the 

 Smithsonian Institution by Mr. John Xantus, and numerous others have been 

 collected and the sexes carefully ascertained. It appears to be one of the 

 most common birds of Western North America. Twenty-four specimens are 

 now before me, the greater part of which are duplicates belonging to the 

 Academy, and kept for exchange. This species is a very distinct subgeneric 

 type. M. Malherbe's plate of this species is one of the very few of his great 

 work that I cannot understand. 



59. Melanerpes portoricencis, (Daudin,) Mai. Mon., pi. 97, fig. 5, 6. 



M. Malherbe's figure does not represent the mature bird of this species, in 

 which all the upper parts are clear black with a green lustre, and with very 

 fine, but readily seen, transverse lines of deeper black. On the neck the 

 black of the upper parts and the red of the under parts come together 

 abruptly, without any such intermediate brown or paler color, as represented 

 in the plate. The white edge of the wing seems to be an immature character. 



Young 9 Under parts dull brown, darker on the throat and lighter on the 

 flanks, scarlet feathers appearing on the breast and middle of the abdomen 

 and at the base of the under mandible. Quills and tail brownish black. 

 Forehead and rump white, other upper parts black with a bluish green lustre, 

 shorter quills edged with white. 



1863.] 



