102 U. 8. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
the same, the outer anterior toe appears decidedly longer than the posterior. The specimen is, 
however, in such a defective state of preservation as to render it almost impossible to ascertain 
its true characters. 
Picus thyroideus, upon which Pilumnus was founded, differs a little from P. varius in a 
longer, more attenuated, and slenderer bill; more curved culmen ; and less prominent lateral 
ridge, The outer toes too are more nearly even. 
The genus Pilumnus, originally established by Bonaparte, is used in the Crustacea, and 
cannot, of course, be again employed. In supplying a new name, I consider the old Picus 
varius as the type instead of thyroideus, which may possibly constitute the type of a distinct 
genus. Reichenbach takes Mr. Cassin quite severely to task for not recognizing a Colaptes in 
his Picus thyroideus. There is, however, nothing of the peculiar features of Colaptes in the bill, 
and but little in the coloration. In the latter respect it is more like Centwrus, but still suffi- 
ciently different to justify Bonaparte in combining it with the Picus varius and ruber. 
The species of Sphyrapicus, in respect to coloration, are divisible into two sections, the one 
with S. varius as the type, the other embracing only S. thyroideus. The following diagnosis 
will serve readily to distinguish them. All have the central line of the belly yellow, and the 
upper tail coverts white. 
A. No transverse bars on the body. Middle of the back longitudinally spotted with whitish. 
Upper tail coverts, outer half of middle and greater wing coverts, and line from the nostrils 
(including the nasal feathers) under the eye, white ; middie line of the belly yellow. 
Crown red, bordered all around with black. A post-ocular white stripe ; chin and throat 
broadly red ; a patch of black on the breast ; outer and inner tail feathers varied with 
white...... Bociabeduoioadad 36 sacddacrocaanocaqcdobaddebontacdgcG0 Gnocduhadsoed Becconeccsneeeese OA UONULS 
Head, neck, and sides of breast and body black. A  post-ocular white stripe; nar- 
row line of chin and throat red. Tail feathers entirely black. Back scarcely 
Spotbedhes. ste. dnnecsestonees hecohone adanbQoBnGonape pocdbad Mees Ont aies cane nes eee ee S. williamsonit. 
Head, neck, and breast red. No post-ocular white stripe. Innermost tail feathers only 
varied with white....... eae eae coe oee et ecccieee tect etucctcec ne conidecenste Sonos BSE SLe So TONGS 
B. Everywhere, except on the head and neck, upper tail coverts and middle line of belly, 
transversely banded with black and whitish. No white (or red?) on the head. 
Head and neck light brown; a large black pectoral patch.....................9. thyroideus. 
Comparative measurements. 
Catal. Species. Locality. Séx. | Length.| Stretch | Wing. | Tail. anes Middle |[ts claw) Bill Along | Specimen 
No jofiwings.| toe. | alone. | above. | gape. | measured. 
2107 | S. varius Carlisle, Pa...... eee | fe) 7.64 |.ccecece! 4.90 3.50 0.80 0.84 | 0.34 1,00 1.00 | Skin ...... . 
GUY |G50ec. GOn.sccesceees|ecenes Oo cancde boobed |eosnny 1) 2 18. 50\p}| MUA ZSR ES SLO0 8. ciectea|lectesier wn [ese loses ele/e'aciel een elses vsiemiseisis Fresh ....00 
TED wewas dOcseavctsctws| sccees dO’ esscecctees [tees NY eee lL cscoece | 486] 3.14] 0.86] 0.20! 0.34] 1.00] 1.04] Skin....... 
2076 |o.oee MO neteleleioelofstaj='el| s.clelaixia GO}. cecciecievnces fof | T.52 |ovesceee 4.80 3,24 0.78 0.84} 0.32 0.96 1,04 | Skin ....... 
GOH lloscoce Ghacceotocane | Saacee Ge sepabe -acded) |; ooade |; ¢8#25,|| #15295) rate Roa: Sede ae, West es rebates aac pierre Fresh ....0. 
6042 |..c00e dO... o200ceeee. Fort Thorn, N. M....|..cee- \ 7.98 | eeeeeeee 5.06 3.56 0.90 0.84 0,32 0.94 0.98 | Skin .....06 
5621 |oeeee do......eeee.-| Medicine Bow, Cr ...|...+++ Zhe Ol haagesce 4.78 3.42) 0.84 0.86 0.34 0.90 0.96 | Skin ....... 
6038 | S. ruber .......... Sacramento val., Cal.| 4 8.00 | weesisece 4.74 3.48 0.80 0.90 | 0.36 0.96 0.96 | Skin ....... 
3899 [ccc dO. seve cecees California. ........0s)eeeeee 7.98 Jrrseeces | 4.86 3.44 0.88 0.68! 0.38 1.00 1.06 | Skin ....... 
8804 | S. williamsonii....| Laramie Peak. ...+..| a | 7.64 | ceeecees 4.92 3.76 0.84 0.88) 0.30 0.98 0.98 | Skin 
do. || a.0ss2 dO cvecssjearcen| prea dds steeesispieesess 3 9200 )|) 15995 118 VOS00i sie «lerem esis teee ‘seb Sco ones bbaa|Hieucbosel| sdb ects Fresh ...... 
9344 |...... (M6 yGosobGooRE Klamath lake, O.T..| Q | 7.60 |........ 5.24] 3.30) 0.88] 0.82| 0.40] 1.06] 1.04] Skin....... 
3903 | S. thyroideus ...... California............ | QO STROM ete aerate 5.36 4.06 0.84 0.86 0.30 1,20 1.20 | Skin ....... 
8807 |...... (Ole Sovelvial cial aeiets Laramie Peak ....... | Q 7.10 | cleeciecee 4,32 3.44 0.84 0,84 0.34 0.90 0.96 | Skin ....006 
CO. |esecee dO. cece cecces|ecenee dO . ccvceciencves|occee~ 8.75 | 15.25 4.50 |..ccccce |Visissinsleni sis Saivecio] sc eilonai| ssinicivoee|cpeciapo Fresh 22.000 
