222 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



CUCULUS GANORUS, Linnaeus. 



Cuculus canorus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 168, (1766.) 



Cuculus borealis, Pallas, 



The European cuckoo. 



Buff. PL Enl. 811, Gould B. of Eur. Ill, pi. 240. 



From Hakodadi ; differing in no respect from the cuckoo of Europe. 



PICUS MAJOR, Limiffius. 



Picus major, Linn. Syst, Nat. I p. 176, (1766.) 



Gould, Birds of Europe III, pi. 229. 



We find in the collection a specimen of a female of this species, in good plumage and preser- 

 vation. On minute examination and comparison with European specimens, we can find no 

 material difference ; in fact, they are ahsolutely identical, except the slightly smaller extent of 

 the white spaces on the forehead and cheeks in that from Japan now before us. It is possible 

 that these characters may be constant, thus presenting another instance of slight variations 

 from European and Asiatic forms, not unfrequently to be noticed in Japanese birds. At 

 present, however, we regard the species as identical with that of Europe. 



This species is not given as a bird of Japan in the Fauna Japonica of Temminck and 

 Schlegel, nor, so far as we are aware, by any other author, and must be regarded as an addi- 

 tion to Japanese ornithology. The specimen was obtained at Hakodadi in May, 1854. 



Mr. Heine mentions this bird as follows : 



" This specimen is the only woodpecker that I ever saw in Japan, nor did I ever hear their 

 notes nor their hammering on trees in the woods, which can readily be done in countries whero 

 they are frequently met with. The present specimen was shot near a village at the mouth of 

 Kamida creek, near Hakodadi." 



3. OKDEK KASOEES.— The Gallinaceous Birds. 



® 



TURTUR MEENA, (Sykes ) 



Columba meena, Sykes Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1831, p. 149. 



Columba gelastis, Temm. PI. Col. IV, liv. 24. 



Temm. PL Col. 550. Temm. and Schleg. Faun. Jap. Aves pi. 60, B. 



Specimens in excellent plumage are in the collection of the Expedition, and were obtained at 

 Hakodadi in May, 1854. They are apparently of more adult age than is represented in the 

 plate of Temminck and Schlegel's Fauna Japonica, to which we refer above. In fact, had we 

 not access in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy to authentic specimens from the Leyden 

 museum, labelled under the direction of the distinguished naturalist whom we have just named, 

 we should scarcely consider our present bird as the same species. The front and throat are 

 light-ashy, almost white ; the back ashy-brown, with a few feathers only, narrowly edged with 

 dull rufous ; rump dark-bluish-ashy ; entire under parts light-vinaceous, darker or browner on 

 the breast. The mark on the side of the neck presents five diagonal stripes of black and very 

 pale-ashy — the feathers of the former color tipped and edged with the latter, and not arranged 

 as in the figure in Fanna Japonica. We have, however, no doubt whatever of the identity of 

 the present specimens with the species represented. 



