of the Ethiopian Region. 417 



trusted, tlie large amount of red on the breast would seem 

 to indicate a specific distinction between this bird and M. 

 goertan. It will be seen, however, that the description of 

 the male given by Heuglin by no means emphasizes this 

 red colour on the breast as being of any very great impor- 

 tance; and I cannot see in what respect the species, as 

 described by Heuglin, really differs from the West-African 

 bird, 



I do not like, however, to nnite M. spodocephalus to 

 M. goertan without further material before me, and I have 

 consequently kept the two species distinct in my key, trust- 

 ing that a future examination of the birds themselves will 

 prove that the extension of the red on the breast in the 

 Abyssinian species will turn out to be a valid character. 



According to Heuglin this Woodpecker is resident in 

 North-eastern Africa, and apparently plentiful in Kordofan 

 and Senaar, as well as in Abyssinia, being generally found in 

 pairs, frequenting bushes and high trees. 



5. Mesopicus griseocephalus. 



Le Pic a tete grise du Cap de Bonne Esperance, Daub. PI. 

 Enl. vii. p. 786, fig. 2. 



Le Pic verd de VIsle de Lucon, Sonn. Voy. Nouv. Guin. 

 1776, p. 73, pi. xxxvi. 



Cape Woodjjecker, Lath. Gen. Syn. i. p. 586, pi. 2. 



Manilla Green Woodpecker, Lath. Gen. Syn. ii. p. 583. 

 no. 28. 



Picus griseocephalus, Bodd. Tabl PI. Enl. 1783, p. 49. 



Picus menstruus, Scop. Del. Fl. et Faun. Insubr. ii. p. 89. 

 no. 50 (1786) ; Sundev. Consp. Av. Picin. p. 45. no. 132 

 (1866). 



Picus capensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 430 (1788) ; Lath. 

 Ind. Orn. i. p. 237. no. 37 (1790) ; Licht. Cat. Rer. Nat. 

 Hamb. p. 16. nos. 175, 176 (1793); Vieill. N. Diet. d'Hist. 

 Nat. xxvi. p. 92 (1818); Steph. Gen. Zool. ix. p. 191 (1826); 

 Less. Traite, p. 219 (1831) ; Riipp. Syst. Uebcrs. p. 87 

 (1845). 



Picus manillensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 434 (1788, ex Sonn.); 



2g 2 



