Birds of the Gold Coast Colony ^c. 3G7 



236. Campothera nivosa (Swains.). 

 Campothera nivosa Hargitt, Cat. B. xviii. p. 108. 

 Dendronius nivosus Reiclieii. J. f. 0. 1897, p. 18 (Togoland). 

 Prahsu. 



237. Dendropicus lapresnayi Malh. 



Dendropicus lafresnayi Hargitt, Cat, B. xviii. p. 301 ; 

 Reichen. J. f. O. 1897, p. 17 (Togoland). 



Upper White Volta, Kraclii, and Pong. 



In our immature bird {^) the upper parts are duller tlian 

 in the adult; there is no red on the upper tail-coverts, and 

 the occiput and crown are dark brown, some of the feathers 

 being tipped with red ; the forehead is dark brown, mixed 

 with the light brown of the new feathers. 



In the adult male obtained at Pong there is no tinge of 

 red on the upper tail-coverts, though the red on the crown 

 has been almost assumed. 



The specimen from the Volta, which is fully adult, has the 

 upper tail-coverts tinged with red and marked with faint dusky 

 bars, while the back, scapulars, and rump are uniform golden 

 olive. The immature male of this species is therefore nearly 

 similar to the adult female, especially resembling the latter 

 in possessing the dark brown head before the red feathers 

 are assumed. We much doubt whether D. sharpii of Oustalet 

 (see Cat. B. xviii. p. 302) is specifically distinct from the 

 present species, if the lack of red on the upper tail-coverts 

 in the former is the only distinguishing character. 



238. Iyngipicus obsoletus (Wagl.). 



lynyipicus obsoletus Hargitt, Cat. B. xviii. p. 336; Hartert 

 Nov. Zool. vi. p. 411 (Gambaga). 



Only observed at Gambaga, where it is scarce. 



239. Mesopicus goertan (Miill.). 



Mesopicus goertan Hargitt, Cat. B. xviii. p. 368; Reichen. 

 J. f. O. 1897, p. 18 (Togoland). 



Kintampo, Krachi, and Gambaga. 



We met with this species a few miles from the forest-belt, 

 where in the more or less open country it is fairly numerous 

 and is found in pairs. This AVoodpecker docs not utter 



