Miscellaneous. 397 



trils, although this involves an extent of anterior development pro- 

 portionate to the length of the jaws ; and the forward production of 

 these sharp-toothed instruments fitted them, as in the modern Dol- 

 phins, for the prehension of agile fishes. 



In most Lacertians the median suture of the premaxillaries is 

 soon obliterated ; the like obtains in the Plesiosaurus, but the suture 

 is persistent in the Ichthyosaurus y as in Labyrinthodonts and Croco- 

 diles. 



Note on Anemone nemorosa purpurea. 

 By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S. &c. 



In general, the flowers of Anemone nemorosa are white, or white 

 with a more or less broad purple streak up the centre of the outside 

 of the outer petals. In a field at Pinner, Middlesex, there are 

 patches of this plant, intermixed with patches of the usual kind, 

 which have a darker foliage, and the flower entirely of a dark purple- 

 lilac. I may also add, that the usual colour of the Primrose in the 

 neighbourhood of Haverfordwest is pale bluish-red ; and all grada- 

 tions between that colour and yellow are to be observed. 



Description of a new species of Woodpecker. By P. L. Sclater. 

 Melanerpes rubrigularis. 



Supra nitenti-niger : linea circumnuchali ah oculis incipiente, 

 altera utrinque suboculari a rictu latiore, tectricibus alarum 

 superioribus, dorso postico et caudce tectricibus superioribus^ 

 necnon maculis secundariarum trium extimarum apicalibus et 

 in pogonio externo primariarum tertice, quartcB et quintce albis: 

 subtus nitenti-nigery gula media ruberrima, abdomine medio 

 flavicante, lateribus et crisso albo nigroque variegatis ; tectri- 

 cibus alarum inferioribus et remigum pogonio interiore cineras- 

 centi-nigrisy maculis quadratis numerosis albis : caudce rectri- 

 cibus omnino nigris : rostro et pedibus nigris. 



Long, tota 8*5, alse 5*4, caudee 3*5, rostri a fronte TO, tarsi 0*8. 



This Woodpecker, which is represented by Mr. Bridges as very 

 rare, appears to have escaped the researches of the American natu- 

 ralists ; at least I am acquainted with no record of its existence, 

 though it may have been described quite lately. It appears to be 

 well placed in the genus Melanerpes^ of which no less than six species 

 are already known to inhabit California, namely M. erythrocephahiSy 

 M. torquatus, M. thyroideus (Cassin, B. Cal. pi. 32 : Picus natalice, 

 Malherbe, Cab. Journ. f. Orn., 1854, p. 271), M. formicivorus 

 (Cassin, B. Cal. pi. 2), M, albolarvatus, and M. ruber. From all 

 these it is quite different in colouring, and may be recognized at 

 once by its black breast and bright scarlet throat-mark, whence I 

 have named it M. rubrigularis. 



*' A very rare bird, the only one of the species I have ever seen. 

 Shot in Trinity Valley, on the pines. Probably this may occur more 



