36 Mr. E. Hargitt on the Genus Gecinus. 



only remarks I think it necessary to make upon it are 

 brought forward with the view of pointing out the various 

 so-called species, to which other titles have been assigned, 

 but which, in my opinion, must be referred to G. vi- 

 ricUs. I think there can be no doubt that the bird de- 

 scribed by Aldrovandi (Orn. p. 850) as Picus luteus cyanopus 

 persicus was nothing more than the present species ; the de- 

 scription was taken from a painting seen in Venice, and not 

 from the bird itself; the latter is said to have come from 

 Persia, and appears, from the description, to be only a phase 

 of plumage found occasionally in specimens of Gecini, of 

 different species, inhabiting warm countries. Picus semi- 

 rostris of Linnaeus was founded upon a mutilated specimen 

 of the present species, and which Sundevall states is still in 

 the Stockholm Museum. Le Pic Verd du Mexique of 

 Brisson (Orn. iv. p. 16) was founded on a bird described 

 and figured by Seba (Cab. Cur. Nat. i. pt. 2, p. 100, pi. Ixiv. 

 fig. 3, 1734) as Ardea mexicana, but which is really our 

 G. viridis, furnished with the legs of another bird, not a 

 Woodpecker, Scba^s description of the bird and his figure 

 do not agree, as he makes no mention of the lores and space 

 round the eye being red, as represented in his plate. Brisson, 

 in his description of Le Pic Verd du Mexique, evidently taken 

 from Seba, shows that he recognized the bird as a Wood- 

 pecker and not a Heron ; and he has consequently, 

 upon his own responsibility, bestowed upon it the legs of a 

 Zygodactyle bird. Picus karelini of Brandt was described 

 from a specimen obtained in the environs of Astrabad, N. 

 Persia. At my request Mr. Seebohm examined the type, 

 which exists in the Museum of St. Petersburg, and he informs 

 me that he considers it to be nothing more than G. viridis ; 

 and this is the opinion held by Bogdanovv. Gecinus saundersi 

 of Taczanowski, from the Caucasus, must, in my opinion, be 

 referred to G. viridis ; and this is the view taken by Bogdanow 

 and Seebohm. I have in my collection specimens from 

 Lenkoran which are identical with our own Green Wood- 

 pecker A curious variety of the present species, with flame- 

 coloured ramp and yellow bands on the wings, is in the pos- 



