18 PICIDJE. 



b'. Nostrils exposed. 



c". Mantle rufous or crimson, more or 



less banded. 



f 3 . Culrnen nearly straight, tip trun- 

 cated PYBBHOPICUS, p. 49. 



g 3 . Culmen curved, tip pointed MICBOPTEBNTJS, p. 54. 



d". Mantle wholly or partly golden 



olive or crimson, not banded, 

 fa. Toes 4. 



e 4 . Hallux well developed, half 



length of second digit CHBYSOCOLAPTES, p. 64. 



/" 4 . Hallux small, about second 



digit BBACHYPTEBNUS, p. 58. 



i s . Toes 3 TIGA, p. 61. 



e". Mantle black or brown and buff. . . . MIGLYPTES, p. 52. 

 b. Primaries without spots or bands. 



c'. Tertiaries with large spots ; size small. HEMICEBCUS, p. 68. 

 d'. All quills unspotted ; size large. 



/". Plumage mostly ashy grey HEMILOPHUS, p. 70. 



"g". Plumage mostly black THBIPONAX, p. 72. 



Genus GECINUS, Boie, 1831. 



Nostrils concealed by harsh plumes ; culmeii slightly curved, 

 a distinct nasal ridge, nearer to the culmen than to the commissure 

 at the base of the bill. Four toes to each foot, the 3rd (outer 

 anterior) toe longer than the 4th (outer posteriorj ; tail less than 

 two-thirds the wing in length ; outermost tail-feather on each side 

 very short, not nearly so long as the upper tail-coverts. Upper 

 plumage green wholly or in part : sexes distinguished by portions 

 of the head, generally of the crown, being red in males and not in 

 females. 



This genus, of which the type is the common European G. viri- 

 dis, ranges almost throughout the Palsearctic and Oriental regions, 

 and is represented by nine species within our area. Members of 

 this genus obtain their insect-food more frequently on fallen trunks 

 of trees and on the ground than Woodpeckers in general are wont 

 to do. 



Key to the /Species. 

 a. Rump green or yellow. 



a'. Lower parts with longitudinal markings ; 

 male with crimson, female with black 

 cap. 

 #". Tail barred throughout. 



a 3 . Dark bars on middle tail-feathers 



broader than white bars G. squamatus, p. 19. 



b 3 . Dark bars narrower than white .... G. yorii, p. 20. 

 b". Tail not barred throughout. 



c 3 . White predominating on lower parts. G. strwlatus, p. 20. 

 d 3 . Dark predominating on lower parts. G. viridanus, p. 22. 

 b'. Lower parts almost uniformly coloured ; 

 crown crimson and occiput black in male, 

 both black in female G. occipitalis, p. 22. 



