PICUMNtJ.?. 75 



1000, Thriponax hodgii. The Andaman Black Woodpecker. 



Miilleripicus hodg'ei, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxix, p. 105 (1860) ; Beavan, 



Ibis, 1867, p. 320 ; Ball, J.A.S. B. xxxix, pt. 2, p. 241 ; xli, pt. 2, 



p. 279 ; id. S. F. i, p. 63. 

 Thriponax hodgei, Walden, Ibis, 1873, p. 301 ; Hume, S. F. ii, p. ISO; 



id. Cat. no. 169 bis ; Harcjitt, Ibis, 1885, p. 142 ; id. Cat. B. M. 



xviii, p. 502. 



Coloration. The forehead, crown, nape, and malar patch crimson 

 in the male, occiput and nape only in the female, all the rest of 

 the plumage black. 



Bill black, in some specimens, not in all, whitish and semi- 

 transparent at the tip ; irides pale yellow ; legs, feet, and claws 

 blackish plumbeous (Hume). 



Length about 15 ; tail 6 ; wing 7'5 ; tarsus 1*3 ; bill from 

 gape 1-9. 



Distribution. The Andaman Islands. 



Habits, 4'C: This Woodpecker is said by Davison to keep to the 

 larger trees, to have a shrill rasping whistle, and to make a great 

 noise tapping. He shot the young well gi-own at the end of 

 March. 



Picus or DrijoGopus ma7'tius was at one time believed by Hume 

 to inhabit part of the Khirthar range, Sind. I have been all over 

 the range, which is very barren and treeless, and there is no part 

 suited for this bird ; moreover I ascertained when in Sind that the 

 native story told to Mr. Hume about the occurrence of a black 

 Woodpecker (S. F. i, pp. 129, 171) at Dharyaro was a hoax. 



Subfamily PICUMNINtE. 



This subfamily consists of the smallest forms of the group, 

 distinguished by having flexible tail-feathers and short tails, by then' 

 nostrils being always covered with dense plumes and bristles, and, 

 according to Mr. W. Kitchen Parker, by a less developed type of 

 palatal structiu'e. The Picumnime or Piculets, as they have been 

 called, climb less and perch more than the true Woodpeckers, 

 which, however, they resemble in food and in nidification. They 

 are foimd in the Oriental region, Africa, and South America. 

 Two genera are Indian. 



Key to the Genera. 



Toes 4 ; orbital region feathered Picumnus, p. 75. 



Toes 3 ; orbital region naked Sasia, p. 77. 



Genus PICUMNUS, Temminck, 1825. 



Size small. Bill conical, compressed, pointed, the culmen slightly 

 curved and angulate, the nostrils and chin-angle concealed by dense 



