24 BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 



distinct on the primaries, gradually merging one into the other on the 

 tertiaries ; sides of the head, throat, fore neck and breast pale buff, nar- 

 rowly banded across with black ; a dark brown stripe from the eye through 

 the ear-coverts and passing a little beyond them ; remainder of the lower 

 plumage very pale buff irregularly banded with black, the bands interrupted 

 and arrow-headed in shape on the abdomen. 



Iris hazel ; bill brown ; legs and feet greenish brown. Dr. Jerdon states 

 that the iris is crimson : this may be the case at times, but generally it 

 is hazel or brown. 



Length 7' 5 inches, tail 3, wing 3 '3, tarsus '75, bill from gape '85. The 

 female is of the same size. 



The Common Wryneck is a winter visitor to Burmah, arriving in October. 

 I observed it every year near Thayetmyo, and I found it very abundant 

 near Pegu and Kyeikpadein. Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay got it in Karennee 

 both in the hills and plains, but Mr. Davison does not appear to have met 

 with it in Tenasserim. Mr. Blyth received it from Arrakan. 



It has a very extensive range. In winter it is found in Southern China, 

 Burmah, the Indo-Burmese countries, the peninsula of India and west- 

 wards to Africa. In summer it occurs in Europe, Central and Northern 

 Asia, and to the east as far as Japan. In Cashmeer and the Himalayas 

 generally it appears to be a summer visitor only, whilst to the south of 

 that range of mountains it occurs only in winter. 



In Burmah the Wryneck is found in brushwood and in elephant-grass, 

 about the stalks of which it creeps in search of ants ; occasionally I have 

 seen it on large trees. It has a loud and well-marked note, but I do not 

 remember to have ever heard it in Burmah. In Europe it nests in the 

 holes of trees, laying several white eggs. 



Genus VI VIA, Hodgs. 



421. VIVIA INNOMINATA. 



THE SPECKLED PICULET. 



Picumnus innominatus, Burton, P. Z. 8. 1835, p. 154 ; Malh. Mon. Pic. ii. p. 278, 

 pi. cxvii. fig. 5, 6 ; Sundev. Consp. Av. Pic. p. 105. Vivia innominata, Jerd. 

 B. Ind. i. p. 300; Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 127; Bl. B.Burm. p. 78; Hume, 

 S. F. v. p. 351 ; Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi. p. 148 ; Hume, 8. F. viii. p. 88 ; Scully, 

 S. F. viii. p. 250; Bingham, 8. F. ix. p. 165 ; Hargitt, Ibis, 1881, p. 223. 



Description. Male. Forehead and anterior portion of crown black, each 



