460 CORACIIFORMES 



CHAP. 



most abundant in the Indian and ISTeotropical Eegions, several 

 forms occurring in the Antilles. 



Gcocola-pUs olivaceus, an olive-coloured bird with whitish 

 marks on the wings and tail, crimson rump, and crimson-washed 

 abdomen, is common in the Cape Colony and Natal, and is re- 

 markable for nesting in holes in banks or mud-huts : it feeds 

 upon the ground, and family-parties are stated by Mr. Layard to 

 keep together until the following breeding-season. Similar habits 

 have been observed in Colaftes agricola of the Argentine Eepublic 

 and Patagonia, in timberless districts ; but, as the trees grow, it 

 recurs to its natural habits. C. auratus, the golden -winged 

 Flicker of North America, has a phase (C. mexicanus) found west 

 of the Eocky Mountains and in Mexico, with red coloration of 

 the wings in place of yellow, intermediate races occurring in the 

 intervening regions ; considerable controversy has consequently 

 arisen as to whether hybridization has taken place, or whether this 

 is a case of specialized forms of a generalized ancestor, due to 

 climatic or other causes. The colour above is dove-brown with 

 black streaks ; the head being lead-coloured with a crimson band 

 on the nape, the rump wliite, the lower throat black, the under 

 parts pinkish-brown with round black spots, and the wings strongly 

 washed with yellow on both surfaces. The bill is more arched and 

 less wedge-shaped than usual. The food consists of fruit, w^ood- 

 lice, ants, and so forth, much of which is procured upon the earth. 



Gecinus viridis, our well-known Green Woodpecker, Yaffle, or 

 Eain-bird, the "laugh" of which is supposed to predict wet 

 weather, is a green bird with yellow rump and red head ; the 

 habits being those common to the whole group, though a certain 

 preference is shewn for feeding on the ground or on ant-hills. 

 It ranges throughout Europe to Asia Minor and Persia, while 

 other nearly allied forms, differing in their black occiputs or scarlet 

 rumps, extend over nearly the whole Eastern Palaearctic and 

 Indian Eegions. Chloronerpes is a Central and South American 

 genus of smaller birds, among which C. rubiginosus has golden- 

 rufous upper parts, witli a red nape, and yellowish under surface 

 crossed by dark bars. Akin to this is the Ethiopian Campetlura, 

 C imnctata being yellow, olive, and brown above, with a crimson 

 head, and yellow below with small black spots. Chryso2Megma 

 extends from the Himalayas to China and the Malay Islands. 

 C. flavinucha is about the size of the Green Woodpecker, but 



