314 IMPERIAL WOODPECKER. 



out finding it, and was at last compelled to relinquish it and follow the 

 party, which had been leaving me at a rapid trot, to find my way as I 

 best could, and keep out of the reach of Indians, who were dogging us 

 continually. Who can describe the chagrin and positive misery of a 

 poor fellow in my then situation ! 



" The only account of this species that I have met with is the fol- 

 lowing, extracted from the " Proceedings of the Committee of Science 

 and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London," Part II. 

 1832, p. 140. — " Specimens were exhibited of a species of Woodpecker, 

 hitherto undescribed, which has recently been obtained by Mr Gould 

 from that little explored district of California, which borders the terri- 

 tory of Mexico. The exhibition was accompanied by a communication 

 from Mr Gould, in which, after some general remarks on the Picidw, 

 and their geographical distribution, he referred to the species before 

 the Committee as possessing the characters of the genus Piciis in their 

 most marked development, together with the greatest size hitherto ob- 

 served in that group. In this respect it as far exceeds the Ivory-billed 

 Woodpecker of the United States, Picus principalis, as the latter does 

 the Picus martins of Europe. Mr Gould described it as the 



" Picus imperialis. Mas. Pic. ater, virescenti-splendens ; crista 

 elongata occipitali coccinea ; macula triangulari interscapulari, remi- 

 gibus secundariis, primariarumque (praeter terium quatuorve exterio- 

 rum) rachibus intermis albis ; rostro eburneo. 



" Foem. Paullo minor ; crista occipitali cum corpore concolore. 



" Longitudo manis, 2 ped. ; alae (clausae), 1 ped. ; caudae, 10 unc. ; 

 tarsi, vix 2 unc ; digiti externi portici, eadem ac tarsi, ungues validissi- 

 mi, arcuati ; rostrum exacte cuneiforme, a rictu ad apice 4 unc. long., 

 ad basin 1 unc. latum. 



" This species is readily distinguishable from the Pic. principalis 

 by its much larger size ; by the length of its occipital crest, the pen- 

 dent silky feathers of which measure nearly four inches ; by the absence 

 of the white stripe which ornaments the neck of that bird, and by the 

 bristles which cover its nostrils being black, whereas those of the Pic. 

 principalis are white." 



