4 Mr. E. Ilargitt on the IVoodpeckers^ 



tail-coverts, and tail narrow, that on the tail-feathers about 

 one third the width of the intervening rufous space ; tips of 

 central rectrices and outer primaries black ; shafts of quills 

 clear orange- brown, those of the tail-feathei^s darker and 

 more of a dusky brown ; nasal plumes, forehead, crown, and 

 occiput uniform dusky brown ; the nape and hind neck rich 

 rufous ; occipital and nuchal feathers elongated ; the feathers 

 of the cheeks, chin, and throat of the same colour as the 

 underparts, and margined on both webs wdth a paler and 

 clearer shade, inclining to oclireous ; under the eye a red 

 spot or patch ; sides of the neck and under surface of the 

 body uniform, the sides of the neck, chest, and breast being 

 of a rich rufous, the abdomen slightly dusky, and the flanks 

 and thighs barred with black ; under tail-coverts with almost 

 obsolete black barring ; under wing-coverts and axillaries 

 rufous, with a few blackish bar-like spots. Total length 8*5 

 inches, culmen 1'18, wing 4'9, tail 2'5, tarsus 09; toes 

 (without claws) — outer anteiior 0"72, outer posterior 0'68, 

 inner anterior 0'5, inner posterior 0*28. 



Adult female. Resembling the adult male, but wanting the 

 red spot under the eye. Total length 8'0 inches, culmen 

 107, wing 4-75, tail 26, tarsus OSr). 



Mr. Oates gives the soft parts in this species as follows : — 

 " Irides brown ; eyelids plumbeous ; bill dark brown, nearly 

 black, plumbeous at base of lower mandible; inside of 

 mouth rosy fleshy ; legs and feet greyish brown ; claws 

 horn-colour.''' 



I have in my collection a specimen from Kaukaryit {Dar- 

 ling) , which has the chin and throat intermediate between 

 M. ph(Boceps and M. brachyvrus : the feathers have a very 

 dark-brown central stripe, the light margins being broader 

 than in M. brachyiirus ; the tail is the same as in typical 

 M. phceoceps. 



The present species is perhaps the best known of the genus. 

 It is found in North-east and Central India, Cachar, Assam, 

 and southwards extends as far as Tavoy in Tenasserim, where 

 it is replaced by M. liracliyurus. It also ranges into Siam, 

 whence there is an example in the Leiden Museum (Fer- 



