PIOUS CACTORUM. 19 



251. PIOUS MIXTUS, Bodd. 

 (VARIED WOODPECKER.) 



Picus mixtus, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 99 ; Durnford, Ibis, 1878, p. 62 (Buenos 

 Ayres) ; White, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 617 (Catamarca) ; Barrows, Auk, 1884, 

 p. 25 (Entrerios) ; Withi-ngton, Ibis, 1888, p. 467 (Lomas de Zamora). 



Description. Above black, with regular white cross bars ; head black, with 

 narrow yellowish shaft-spots ; a large patch behind the ear on each side of the 

 neck white ; feathers of the nape slightly pointed with rosy red : beneath white, 

 with longitudinal black stripes ; under surface of wings white, with black cross 

 bars : whole length 6'0 inches, wing 3'5, tail 2-2. Female similar, but head 

 uniform black, and no red on the nape. 



Hab. South Brazil and Argentina. 



In the district of Buenos Ayres this little Woodpecker, the smallest 

 of the Argentine species of the family, is usually called Come-palo 

 (Wood-eater) in the vernacular. It has all the habits characteristic of 

 the true Woodpeckers, inhabiting the woods and perching vertically on 

 the trees, where it is heard vigorously striking the bark to dislodge the 

 lurking insects with its sharp beak. When disturbed it flits away with 

 a shrill querulous cry, passing to the nearest tree with a rapid undu- 

 lating flight, and conceals itself by running round the bole to the 

 opposite side. It excavates a straight hole in a rotten or decaying 

 branch to breed in, and a common species of Synallaxis (Leptasthenura 

 cegithaloides}*rQqiient\y makes use of its forsaken breeding-holes. The 

 entire plumage in both sexes is very dark, nearly black, densely and 

 evenly marked with oblong white spots. The loose feathers of the 

 crown are black tipped with scarlet, but in the female the one spot of 

 bright colour is scarcely if at all perceptible. 



White met with this Woodpecker near Cordova and in Catamarca, 

 and Mr. Barrows in Entrerios, where, however, though resident, it does 

 not appear to be common. 



252. PICUS CACTORUM, d'Orb. et Lafr. 

 (CACTUS WOODPECKER.) 



Picus cactorum, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 99 ; Salvin, Ibis, 1880, p. 361 (Salta) ; 

 White, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 617 (Catamarca); Narrows, Auk, 1884, p. 25 

 (Gualeguaychu). Dendrobates cactorum, Bunn. La-Plata Reise, ii. 

 p. 445 (Catamarca). 



Description. Above black; large blotch on the front and another on the 

 nape dull white ; small coronal spot scarlet ; wings and tail black, with white 

 cross bands ; rump white, spotted with black : beneath buffy white, throat 



