44 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



DescrijJtion. — Adult male, spring, from Ain-Draham, North Tunisia. 



Forehead and lores hutf ; crown crimson, intermixed with white ; nape 

 and a superciliary stripe joining it, as well as a nioustachial stripe, black ; 

 space round the eye, and a patch on each side of the neck white ; ear- 

 coverts but}'; remainder of the upper parts black, barred broadly witli white 

 on the middle of the back, wings, and outer pairs of rectrices ; under parts 

 buff, streaked with black on the sides, flanks and crissum. 



Iris pale rose ; bill dark slate ; feet dark grey. 



Total length 5-50 inches, wiug 3'40, culraen -65, tarsus 'OS. 



Adult female similar to the male, but without the crimson crown. 



Observations. — The Lesser Pied Woodpecker found in Algeria was distin- 

 guished by Malherbe from typical D. minor (L.) under the name of Picas 

 ledozicii, chiefly on the grounds of its being smaller than our European 

 bird. My Tunisian specimens, however, show no difference whatever, 

 either in size or coloration, from typical D. miliar, and I cannot do other- 

 wise, therefore, than refer them to that species. 



This small Woodpecker occurs in most of the oak-woods of North 

 Tunisia, and is sedentary there, although not abundant. I have 

 specimens of it from the neighbourhood of Ain-Draham, and it is 

 said to be not uncommon in some of the forests near Ghardimaou. 



In Algeria, according to Loche, the species is to be found generally 

 distributed, although nowhere common. Mr. J. H. Gurney and Dr. 

 Koenig have both obtained specimens of it from that country. In 

 Marocco I have no note of its occurrence, but it is probably to be 

 found there also. 



The species is said to have occurred in the Azores, but not on any 

 of the other Atlantic islands, so far as is at present known, and even 

 in the Azores Mr. Ogilvie Grant informs me its occurrence is 

 extremely doubtful. 



In its habits this little Woodpecker resembles the preceding species 

 to a considerable extent, and like it is active and restless, although 

 somewhat less shy and wary. It frequents the same description of 

 woods, and apparently feeds upon the same insects and their larvae as 

 D. Jiiiniidicus. I have no information of a positive nature regarding 

 the nidification of this species in Tunisia, but according to Loche this 

 does not differ from that of the Lesser Pied Woodpecker in Europe, 

 the bird laymg four or five glossy white eggs in a hole in a tree. 

 Average measurements 19 x 14 mm. 



