204 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
MICROPTERNUS GULARIS (Blanford, Vol. IIT., p. 57 ; 
Legge, p. 200). 
The Malabar Rufous Woodpecker. 
Description.—Male : General colour dull rufous ; head and 
cheeks dark brown, the feathers from the gape beneath the 
eye to the ear coverts tipped with crimson. The upper 
plumage from the hind-neck to the tail is barred with black. 
The chin and throat feathers have broad darker borders and 
faint whitish edges. The remainder of the lower plumage is 
almost uniform rufous-brown with indistinct black bars on 
the flanks and thighs. 
Females have no crimson tips to the cheek feathers. 
Bill dull black, paler beneath ; iris deep brown ; legs and 
feet slaty-black. . 
Length 9°5; wing 4°75; tail 2°75; tarsus °75: bill from 
gape 1-2. 
Distribution.—Fairly well distributed throughout the low- 
country, and on the lower hills up to about 2,000 feet. In 
India its range is restricted to the forest tracts of the Malabar 
Coast. 
Habits, &c.—This species is found in forests or well-wooded 
gardens. It feeds mainly on ants, and occasionally may be 
seen on the ground in search of its food. 
The nest has not yet been recorded from Ceylon, but in 
India the breeding season is during April and May. The nest 
hole is excavated in the interior of large hanging ants’ nests. 
Three fragile, glossless, white eggs are laid, measuring about 
1°12 by °68. 
BRACHYPTERNUS AURANTIUS (Blanford, Vol. ITI., p. 58). 
BRACHYPTERNUS PUNCTICOLLIS (Legge, p. 205). 
The Golden-backed Woodpecker. 
Description.—Male : Pale form. Feathers of forehead and 
crown black with crimson tips ; crest crimson ; a fairly broad 
stripe runs from over the eye to the nape, another broad white 
stripe extends from the nostrils across the cheek and broadens 
down the side of the neck. The sides of the head between 
these two stripes are streaky black and white. The hind-neck, 
