THE BIRDS OF N0RT17 CACHAR, 343 



The young male has the whole upper part of the head and nape the 

 colour of the female's, but paler and lighter, and each feather tipped 

 red ; those I have shot, however, do not show a paler chin and throat 

 and have no purple tinge on the upper plumage, which is merely- 

 duller and browner than that of the adult bird. 



(381) Dendrocopus darjilensis.— The Darjeeling Black 

 Woodpecker. 

 Hume, No. 155 ; Blanford, No. 964. 



A very rare bird indeed in North Cachar and confined entirely to 

 the higher parts of the country in the North-West. I have not seen 

 half a dozen birds in as many years. 



Three eggs, which were taken from a hole high up in an old oak 

 tree, in one of the larger branches, measure 1*16" >C" 90", 1*16">C'86" 

 and l*16"x*86". These are broad ovals, two rather pointed, the third 

 less so. They are not as glossy as are the eggs of most of this family. 

 They were taken on the 16th of April, 1888. 



This is the only Woodpecker I have met with here, which I did not 

 expect or, at all events, consider possible I should meet with. From 

 the little I have seen of it, it appears to be chiefly a forest bird. 



(382) Dendrocopus macii. — The Indian Spotted Woodpecker. 

 Humej No. 157 ; Blanfordj No. 967. 



To be met with all over the district, but nowhere in very large 

 numbers. 



(383) Iyngipicus pygm^us. — The Himalayan Pigmy Woodpecker. 

 Hume, No. 163 ; Blanford, No. 974. 



I have at present only two birds in my collection, which can, 

 without doubt, be placed amongst those of this species. In these birds 

 the central rectrices are wholly black, and the next pair practically 

 so, having merely a tiny speck of white on the outer webs, 

 about half-way down the feather. The upper tail-coverts are quite 

 unspotted black. I have seen other birds in Cachar quite as typical 

 specimens of /. pygmc&us as these are, and I have seen many with the 

 four central tail-feathers either black or almost so, but very few with 

 the upper tail-coverts not barred with white, though a few have the 

 central and longest ones all black. I once came across a.pcdr of birds, 

 one of which was a typical I. pygmceus, whereas the other was almost 

 as typical a I, canicapillus. 



