322 MR. W. J. F. WILLIAMSON ON 



Tlie bird is evidently, therefore, of vevy loeal ilistrilmtioii. and 

 it will be interestino- to see if it is eventual!}- found in any other part 

 of Siam. 



Habits, li-c. In Bangkok this is a common bird, and freelj- 

 enters the gardens round houses. Its presence nia}-, usually, be at 

 once detected, either by its note of dtik, chili (or, more occassionally, a 

 rapid chr-chr-chr), or by the very quick tapping noise which it makes 

 with its bill, as it seeks to dislodge insects from their places of conceal- 

 ment under loose bark, or in the dead wood of trees, &c. 1 have also 

 occasionally seen it clinging to one of the wooden posts carrying the 

 electric light wires on the sides of the roads in my neighbourhood, 

 tapping away vigorously — the insects for which it was in search being 

 presumably concealed in the longitudinal cracks in the posts. 



On two occasions I liavehad eggs brought to me. which I believe 

 to be of this bird, in January and May, respectively. It must, of course, 

 breed here regularly. 



70. Micropternus brachyurus burmanicus Hume. TIte 

 Per/H Biifous Woodpecker. 



Mii-niptmiiis InirnKdiiiiix. Hniiio, Pi'oc. Asiat. Soc. Benson], 1872, p. 71. 

 Minitjitniiiis hnirliyunis (p.Trl.), lllniiFord, Faiin. r>i'il. !iiill;i, llinls. 



iii (l^".!;")), p. f>~. 

 Microptfiniis jiJiiifdcejjs, Williamson, Jourii. X. H. S. Si:\iii. i, p. HIS. 

 AtiiTO/ittniiit /i/iiiiiii'i-ps p/iiiioct/is. fj vd<'iislol[i(' 1913, p. 1^ : iil. I'.MI'i, 



p. 94. 



Description. Length about 235 mm. ( 0| in. ). Toes ■!■, first 

 very short. Male. The whole plumage dull rufous (occasionally light 

 chestnut) ; top of the head and occiput tinged with dnsky brown, the 

 feathers slightly paler at the edges— tliusr of iIm chin and throat 

 with much more distinct pale edges ; feathers beneath the eye and for 

 a short distance backwards and forwards tippe 1 with crimson ; back, 

 rump, upper tail-coverts, wings and tail with black transverse bars, 

 which, however, are sometimes wanting on theb.ack. Lower surface rather 

 duller in colour than the back, and without black bars e.vcept on the 

 flanks, thighs and under tail-ooverts. Female. So crimson below the 

 eyes. Immature tnrd.i. Orescentic dark brown marlcs on the lower 

 surface, which become paler and tend tn disappear as the birds arrive 

 at maturity. 



jiii'KN. N.M'. HIST. soc. ><],\y\. 



