picumnin^. 301 



The Speckled Piculet. 



Descr. — Above yellowish-green, duller and somcwliat ashy on 

 the head, nape, and ears, and bright on the back and on the edges 

 of the secondaries ; beneath white, tinged with yellow, ocellated 

 with black from the chin to the breast, and from thence to the tail 

 cross-barred with black ; two white lines down the sides of the head 

 and neck ; frontal zone pale yellow ; forehead chesnut in males, 

 in females dark green ; wings dusky-brown, devoid of bars inter- 

 nally ; two central tail-feathers black on the outer web, white on 

 the inner ; the next four are wholly black ; all the remainder being 

 black, but whitish on their outer webs and tips. 



Bill plumbeous ; irides brown ; legs plumbeous. Length 4 inches ; 

 extent 7^ ; wing 2^ ; tail 1^ ; bill at front y% ; stretch of foot 

 If ; weight ^ oz. 



This interesting little bird is found throughout the Himalayas, 

 and in no other locality that I am aware of. Its range extends, so far 

 as known, from 3,000 to 6,000 feet or so. It is found in tangled 

 brushwood, and among dead and fallen trees in damp spots, hunting 

 about among the decaying bark for various insects. It is said to 

 breed in holes of trees. 



Its nearest ally is the Picumnus minutus of Temminck, from 



South America and the West Indies, which is very similar in 



coloring, but has a stronger bill, with the head red on the forehead, 



black with white spots posteriorly, like so many Woodpeckers. 



There are several other species from the same region, as before 



remarked. 



Gen. Sasia, Hodgson. 



Syn. Micro colaptes, Gray — Picumnoides, Temminck — Comeris, 

 Hodgs. 



Char. — Much as in Vivia : bill somewhat longer and broader, its 

 base more furnished with tufts of hair ; wings equal to the tail ; the 

 5th and 6th quills equal and longest ; the feet three-toed ; the hind 

 being stout and large, about equal to the outer fore ; the nails 

 arc long, straightish, and blunt. 



187. Sasia ochracea, Hodgson. 



J. A. S., v., 778— BLYTii,Cat. 310— lIoRbF., Cat. ^05— Saxt/a 

 of Nepal — C/wn-pho, Lcpch. 



