THE PIGMY PICULET. 



407 



another running from the angle of the mouth down the neck. The quill-feathers of the wings 

 are deep brown, edged with sulphur-yellow. The whole of the under surface is yellow with a 

 green tinge, and is profusely spotted with black. The total length of this species rather 

 exceeds seven inches. 



The Piculets seem to bear the same proportion to the Woodpeckers as the merlin to the 

 eagle, being about the size of spaiTows and more slenderly framed . Their bills are shorter in 

 proportion than those of the true Woodpeckers, and are rather deeper than wide at the base. 

 Their wings are short and rounded, and their tails are also short. 



The Pigmy Piculet is a very jjretty example of this little sub-family. It is a native of 

 Southern America, and is generally found in the vast forests of that fertile land. It is a lively 

 little creature, rumiing quickly up tlie trunks of trees after the manner of the English 





PIGMY PICULET.— iSCMm«u« minutus. 



creeper, but seldom appearing to use its tail in aid of its progress, or to seek its food on the 

 tree-trunks in the usual Woodpecker fashion. In general it is seen among the branches, 

 where it sits across the boughs when at rest, and hops quickly from one branch to another 

 while searcliing after its food. 



It is not a gregarious bird, being generally found either singly or in pairs. The nest of 

 this species is made in hollow trees, and its eggs are only two in number. 



This species is a remarkably pretty one, elegant in shape and delicately colored. The 

 general color of the back and upper portions of the body is a very soft hair-brown, and the 

 wings are also bro^vIl, but of a deeper hue. Over the back are scattered a few oval spots of a 

 much lighter brown, each having a nearly black spot towards one end, and contrasting in a 

 very pleasing manner with the delicate thrown of the back. The tail is of the same dark 

 brown as the wings, with the exce2:)tion of the two central feathers, which are of a light fawn. 

 The most strildng portion of this bird is the top of the head, which is decorated Avith a bright 

 scarlet crest-like crown, covered with velvety-black dots. The rest of the head and the back 

 of the neck are jetty black, interspersed with white dots. The under surface of the body is 

 pale brown variegated with the same curious sjjots as those of the back. In size this bird 

 hardly exceeds a wren. 



