440 PICID/E. 



are laid. The eggs are a lengthened pyriform oval, milk-white, and glossy, 

 In length they vary from ro to 1*2 inch, and in breadth from 077 to 0-85 

 inch. I agree with Mr. Hume, who very properly points out (Sir. F. vol. i. 

 p. 171) that the Sind species, B. dilutus, is not specifically separable. 



1044. Brachypternus chrysonotus (Lesson.), Jerd., B. ind. 



I. p. 296, No. 181. Brachypternus puncticollis, Malh., Mon. PzV.ii.pl.; 

 Hume, Sir, F. iv. p. 242. The LESSER GOLDEN-BACKED WOODPECKER. 



Similar to the last, but smaller ; the frontal feathers are more mixed with 

 black in the male ; the black of the nape is continued lower upon the 

 shoulders, contrasting strongly with the golden orange of the back ; wings are 

 of a duller golden. Eyestreak narrower, but darker and more strongly defined, 

 and the white spots are smaller ; the white markings of the throat and foreneck 

 are also smaller and consist of round oval points, edged on the sides of the neck 

 by unspotted black ; lastly, the white markings of the under parts are narrower, 

 giving a generally dark hue to the breast and abdomen. Bill dark slaty; 

 legs plumbeous green ; irides crimson. (Jerd.) 



Length. 11*5 inches; tail 3*25 ; wing 5-25 ; bill at front ri. 



Hab. Southern India, in the Carnatic and Malabar. Said to occur also on 

 the slopes of the Neilgherries. 



Gen. Micropternus. Biyth. 



Bill broad at base ; culmen arched ; no lateral ridge ; wings and tail short ; 

 feet small ; inner hind toe and claw minute ; plumage chestnut bay. 



1045. Micropternus phaeoceps, Blyfk, J. A. S. B. xiv. p. 195 ; 



Jerd., B. Ind. i. p. 294, No. 178; Hume, Sir. F. iii. p. 72; Blylh and 

 Wald., B. Burm. p. 77; Gammie, Sir. F. iv. p. 511; Hume, Sir. F. v. 

 p. 480; Hume and I)av., Sir. F. vi. p. 145; Cripps, Sir. F. vii. p. 262; 

 Scully ', Sir. F. viii. p. 249. Phaiopicus Blythii, Malh., Rev. Zool. 1849, p. 

 534. Phaiopicus rufinotus, Main., Mon. Pic. ii. p. 1., pi. xlvi., fig. i 3. Picus 

 rufinotus, Sundev., Consp. Av. Pic. p. 88. Micropternus burmannicus, Hume, 

 Proc. As. Soc. Bengal, 1872, p, 71 ; Blylh and Wald., B. Burm. p. 77. 

 Micropternus phaeoceps (Blylh), Hume, Sir. F. viii. p. 88; id., ix. p. 112; 

 Bingham, Sir. F. ix. p. 164 ; Oates, Sir. F. x. p. 192 ; id., B. Br. Burmah 

 ii. p. 57. The BENGAL RUFOUS WOODPECKER. 



Plumage dark chestnut-bay, paler on the head and nape ; back, rump, upper 

 tail coverts, tail and wings cross banded with black ; feathers of the chin and 

 throat faintly edged paler ; sub-orbital and post-orbital feathers tipped with 

 crimson ; neck in front, breast and abdomen, bright chestnut-bay ; lower 

 abdomen somewhat paler, and with dusky cross bands. The female has no 

 crimson tips to the feathers under and behind the eye. Very old birds want the 

 subterminal bands on the lower surface. Bill dark brown, plumbeous at base 

 of lower mandible ; irides brown ; legs and feet greyish brown. 



