GECININ^E. 295 



This Eufous Woodpecker is found in the forests of Malabar, both 

 above and below the Ghauts, from the extreme south to N. L. 

 16°. It is generally found in forests ; but I have seen it in 

 avenues of trees, in cultivated ground not far from forest-jungle. Mr. 

 Elliot, who obtained it in the Dharwar country, states that "it is 

 remarkable for the head, scapulars, and tail, being generally 

 smeared, probably from the gum of some tree." Mr. Blyth remarks 

 the same of the Bengal species. A slightly darker race exists in 

 Ceylon. 



M. badius, from Malacca, is very closely allied, but is smaller ; 

 with the head lighter, the throat intermediate between the two 

 Indian races, and it has the bars of the tail wider. 



Gen. Brachypternus, Strickland. 



P. Z. S., 1841. — Syn. Brama-picus, Malh. 



Char. — Bill distinctly curved, moderately compressed, and slop- 

 ing on the sides ; lateral ridge wanting ; nostrils apert, but the 

 frontal feathers produced to their base ; gonys short ; tail cuneate ; 

 the two central feathers longest ; feet small ; outer posterior and 

 mid-toe nearly equal ; hind -toe and claw minute. 



180. Brachypternus aurantius, Lm. 



Picus, apud Linn^us— Blyth, Cat. 252— Horsf., Cat. 949— 

 Brachylophus bengalensis, L., apud Jerdon, Cat. 212 (in part) — 

 PI. enl. 695 — P. nuchalis, Wagler — Malacolophus melanochrysos, 

 HODGS., and Br. igniceps, HoDGS. — Picus hemipodius, SwAiNSON, 

 — P. tibetanus, Natterer. 



The Golden-backed Woodpecker. 



Desc7\ — Male, head and crest bright crimson ; middle of the 

 neck, behind, black; upper back and scapulars, rich golden-yellow; 

 middle of the back, black, mixed Avith olive-yellow ; lower back, 

 upper tail-coverts, and tail, black; wing-coverts black at the shoulder, 

 gradually changing to golden olive-yellow ; each feather spotted 

 with fulvescent-white ; wings the same, externally, except the 

 first quills which are black, as all are internally, and marked with 

 large white spots on tlicir inner webs ; a stripe through the eyes 

 and ear-coverts, mixed black and grey ; lores, cheeks, and sides 



