1886.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 115 



21) ill regard to JD. major, that " we could uot see any difference in 

 specimens collected in tbe latter island (Japan) by Mr. Wbitely, when 

 compared with European birds," differences duly appreciated by Mr. 

 Seebohm, who for himself refutes the idea of being a " splitter." As 

 Dresser and Blakiston, however, say nothing about the color of the 

 rump, it is still doubtful whether the white-breasted Japanese birds 

 should be referred to true 1). cirris with white rump, or be regarded as 

 light-colored specimens of D. suhcirris with black rump. 



Since the above was written and submitted for publication, I have 

 received a female White-backed Woodpecker from the mainland oppo- 

 site Northern Japan. U. S. National Museum No. 10889G; Sidinij, 

 Ussuri, December 19, 1884.) Without going into detail I may state that 

 I can find no character which would warrant its separation from typical 

 I), leiicotos. Whether the males will agree in the same manner, and 

 whether Yesso birds will agree with the mainland bird are questions 

 which are still open. But, certainly, even if the Ussuri bird be insepa- 

 rable from the European species, there is no good reason to conclude 

 that the Siberian form also is identical. At present, therefore, I regard 

 it safest to retain for the white-breasted Japanese form Bechstein's 

 name, B. leucotos, with a query. 



WHITE-BACKED WOODPECKERS COLLECTED BY CAPTAIN BLAKISTON 



IN JAPAN. 



I extract the following list of the specimens of White-backed Wood- 

 peckers {suhcirris and ? leucotos) collected by Captain Blakiston, from his 

 manuscript notes, together with the measurements as recorded by him. 

 The specimens marked "Hak." were presented by him to the Hako- 

 dadi Museum; those marked "Sw."' to Mr. K. Swinhoe; and those 

 marked " U. S." to the National Museum of the United States. The 

 last one was not preserved. No. 9 was collected by Mr. Fukushi. 



The fresh colors of the specimen first mentioned are given as follows : 

 "Eye, light brown; bill, leaden horn color; feet, bluish slate." 



