PICARIAN BIRDS AND PARROTS OF CEYLON. 207 
CHRYSOCOLAPTES FESTIVUS (Blanford, Vol. III., p. 64 ; 
Legge, p. 191). 
The Black-backed Woodpecker. 
Description.—Male : Forehead brownish with large white 
spots ; crown and crest crimson bordered by a black stripe ; 
a broad white stripe runs from behind the eye to the nape, 
and expands into a triangle of white on the hind-neck and 
upper back. The rest of the back, the scapulars, rump, upper 
tail coverts, and tail are black, as are the smaller wing 
coverts on the forearm. The remainder of the wing coverts 
are black at the base, the exposed portions being golden-olive 
with bright golden-yellow fringes. The outer webs of the 
secondary quills are golden-olive ; remainder of wing quills 
brownish-black, the outer webs with light brown or greenish, 
and the inner webs with large white spots. A broad black 
stripe runs from the eye down the side of the neck. The jaws, 
chin, throat, and fore-neck are white with five longitudinal 
black stripes. The under parts are white streaked with black, 
most heavily on the breast. 
Female : The fore part of the crown, as well as the forehead, 
is speckled black and white, the rest of the crown and crest 
are light golden-yellow. 
Bill blackish ; iris crimson ; legs slaty-greenish. 
Length about 12; wing 5°8; tail 35; tarsus 1°1; bill from 
gape 2. 
Distribution —A rare bird, found in a few forest localities 
in the northern half of the Island. Legge met with it also 
near Tissa in the Hambantota District. In India it is locally 
distributed throughout part of the peninsula, but is every- 
where rare. 
Habits, &c.—I have come across several small colonies cf 
this species in the North-Central Province and Puttalam 
District always in large trees, and generally in the ‘‘tisbambka,” 
or clearing, round isdlated villages in the jungle. They nest 
high up in large trees, and, to judge from the number of holes, 
make a fresh nest every year. Apparently they roost in these 
nest holes. The breeding season is in March, and again in 
August. I once obtained an addled egg on April 1 from a 
