Sir W. Jardine on the Ornithology of the Island of Tobago. 333 



Edwards's 'Gleanings/ iii. pi. 362. f. 2, which although mentioned 

 as received from Africa agrees with our Tobago bird, and of 

 which we cannot help thinking that the locality may have been 

 incorrectly given ; and it is remarkable that although the other 

 figures on this plate are quoted by Linnseus and by Gmelin, this 

 little bird seems to have been overlooked or omitted both by them 

 and subsequent authors. 



cT Forehead dull greenish black, shading backwards into oil- 

 green on the whole upper parts, wings and tail ; chin, throat and 

 breast black, shaded into pale brownish gray on the belly and 

 under parts. Entire length 4 inches, of wing 2 inches. 



Spermophila fusciventris, Bodd. s. 

 Spermophila ignobilis, Spix. s. 

 " Builds on the grass : beautiful warblers." 



Spermophila misya, Vieill. s. 

 u A native." The name of "grass-bird" seems generally to 

 be applied to the small Tobago Finches ; the three last being all 

 so marked without any distinguishing epithet. 



Cassicus cristatus, Gmel. (Yellow Tail.) s. 



Sturnella guianensis, Linn. s. 



Chrysoptilus rubiginosus, Swain. (Woodpecker, Golden- 

 winged.) s. 



" Native : feeds like all the tribe on insects and larvae. With 

 a shrill piercing note it flies from tree to tree, and although often 

 found low it will ascend from the root spirally to a great height, 

 examining with surprising dexterity every crevice as it moves 

 along. I have seldom observed this species tapping the dead 

 limbs of trees so much as the spotted and red-tailed woodpecker." 

 We have also received this species from Trinidad. 



Chrysoptilus kirkii, Malh. (Woodpecker, Red-tailed.) 

 " Native. The note of this species is three syllables, sounding 

 like the words ' click, click, click/ pronounced very sharply to- 

 wards the end." 



This species was submitted to the examination of M. Malherbe 

 while in London last year collecting materials for a monograph 

 of the family ; he considered it undescribed, and suggested the 

 specific name which we have adopted above. The most nearly 

 allied to this is the "petit pic de S. Domingue" of Brisson, on 

 which is founded the Picus passerinvs, Linn. ; but it differs from 

 it, as well as the P. affinis of Sw., in the markings of the wings 

 and tail, and in the rump and upper tail-covers being red, whereas 

 in the others they are olive or yellowish. 



