10 Mr. E. Hargitt on the Genus Gecinus. 



black mandibular stripe on eacli side of the throat, extending 

 to below the ear-coverts/^ The present species is nearly- 

 allied to G. (juerini, but may be distinguished from it by its 

 grey loral region, having only a small spot of black in front 

 of the eye ; by its powerful and entirely black bill ; and, above 

 all, by its tail, which is almost uniform black, with, at most, 

 a few almost obsolete marginal spots, excepting the central 

 pair of feathers, which are more distinctly spotted, whereas 

 in G. guerini the central pair of tail-feathers are barred 

 across, and the remaining ones are generally barred, although 

 in some specimens these bars are wanting, but the outer 

 large feather has always light spots or bars upon both webs, 

 which are never found in G. occipitalis. 



Burmese examples of the present species exceed in mea- 

 surement those from Sikkira and Cacliar. G. occipitalis has 

 a wide range, being found throughout the whole extent of 

 the Himalayas and in Cashmere, also in Yunnan, Cachar, 

 Assam, British Burmah, and Siam. In the collection of the 

 British Museum are examples from Cashmere obtained by 

 Dr. Bellevv. Almost every collection from the Himalayan 

 range contains this species. Col. Tytler records it from 

 between Simla and Mussoorie, and the Hume Collection con- 

 tains examples from the middle ranges of hills north of the 

 latter place. Dr. Scully writes, '' it is not uncommon in the 

 forests surrounding the valley of Nepal, where it also breeds,''^ 

 and he says it is fairly common about Hetoura in December. 

 Capt. Strachey obtained it in Kumaon, and it has been pro- 

 cured iu Sikkim by Capt. Bulger and others. In the British 

 Museum there is a specimen of Gecinus from Momien, Yun- 

 nan, collected by Dr. Anderson at 5500 feet elevation ; this 

 bird is a nestling, and was obtained upon June 17th, and 

 although it has been named G. striolatus by Dr. Anderson, I 

 am, after a careful examination of specimens, inclined to refer 

 it to the present species. Dr. Anderson procured in Yunnan 

 a second specimen (now in the Calcutta Museum) ; and as he 

 tells us that it is the common Woodpecker of the elevated 

 region to the east of the Kakhyen Hills, and the bird in its 

 adult plumage must have been well known to him, the pro- 



