of the Lower Pilcomayo. 137 



and it is also the most conspicuous. As one passes through 

 the open jaalmar one's attention is frequently called by the 

 loud roll as of a kettledrum^ and on looking one finds the 

 sound to be produced by a Boie's Woodpecker^ striking its 

 heavy beak in rapid succession against the hollow stem of a 

 dead palm-tree. This species is equally abundant in the thick 

 forest as in the open palmar, and its large size, its bright red 

 head, and its martial rat-tat make it very conspicuous. Its 

 ordinary language is a low, soft, and squeaky chattering, 

 uttered when there are two or more of them in company. 



Diary, June \2th, 1890. — '"^As we paddled silently down 

 stream our attention was suddenly arrested by a delicate 

 ^ahem!' as if of a cough to attract one's attention. Again 

 it was repeated, and followed by a suppressed giggle-like 

 sound. We looked at each other, wondering what on earth 

 it could be. At last we caught sight of the performers — a 

 pair of Boie's Woodpeckers, and most amusing it was to listen 

 to and watch them. 



" The female pecked away industriously at a tree-trunk 

 with an appearance of the utmost unconcern, yet all the 

 while taking care that the male did not approach too near. 

 After a short while she flew off to a palm at a little distance. 

 The male immediately followed and perched on the same 

 stem near the female. He cocked his beautiful head on one 

 side — uttered innumerable ' he-he-hes,' interspersed with an 

 occasional ' ahem' all evidently meant to be full of emotion ; 

 but the female appeared quite unimpressionable and flew ofl:' 

 again, and the performance began afresh." 



A female of this Woodpecker, which I had alive for some 

 time, showed how the habit of pecking has become quite incor- 

 porated into the nature of the bird, so that even when terribly 

 frightened or severely wounded it will every now and then 

 give an involuntary and almost convulsive peck. 



-f-88. Ceophlceus lineatus (Linn.) : Plargitt, Cat. Birds, 

 xviii. p. 508. 



(Nos. 127 & 31, $; 26, ? .) Fortin Page. July 3rd, 

 1890. 



Occasionallv met with. 



