on the Birds of Chili. 49 



probably peculiar to them, unless found on the eastern side 

 of the Andes, I believe it does not extend north of Arauco, 

 and in this latter province only occurs inland. I could get 

 no positive proof of its existence in Chiloe, but it probably 

 occurs in parts of it which are still under forest. I never 

 met with Colaptes pitiiis and Dendrocopus lignarius in the 

 virgin forest, except about clearings, but the present species, 

 on the contrary, does not occur out of it. On this account 

 it is not often obtained, and is consequently considered to 

 be somewhat a rcra avis, though pretty well known by the 

 name of " el Carpintero " or " Carpintero grande.^' 



The feet and legs are grey, the claws black, and the iris 

 is orange-rufous. The iris of the female is much redder than 

 that of the male, and I w^as told by a Chilian that this was 

 invariably the rule. 



Owing to the destruction of the forest by encroaching 

 settlers, these birds have been driven back towards the in- 

 terior, and are therefore scarcer on the coast. I was fortunate 

 only on a few occasions in meeting with them whilst in the 

 province of Valdivia. I believe they always go in pairs, like 

 the " Pitigiie," but frequently two or three pairs go together. 

 They have not a loud call, like the Pitigiie, but make curious 

 rasping and chuckling noises, such as might be heard from 

 Magpies. The noise they make hammering away the bark 

 can be heard a good way off. I have seen large holes made 

 by them in the trunk of a growing tree, but could not ascer- 

 tain the object, as these were not sufficiently large for nesting, 

 and must have occasioned more labour than the bird could 

 be expected to exert in its ordinary feeding operations. 



46. Ceryle stellata (Meyen). 



Ceryle torquata, subsp. a. C. stellata, Sharpe, B. M. C. 

 xvii. p. 1.23. 



This handsome species is, I believe, most abundant in 

 Tierra del Fuego and the most southerly provinces. I fancy 

 it does not occur further north than Arauco ; I did not 

 meet with any in this province, but I heard that it occurred, 

 although very scarce. It is more numerous about Valdivia 

 in winter-time. 



SER. VII. VOL. in. E 



