460 DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW AND LITTLE KNOWN SPECIES OF 



and circular spots of the upper parts, and has no transverse bands on the shorter 

 epulis nor tail as represented in the figures of that species. In the present and only 

 specimen, though the top of head and occiput are bright scarlet, there is no stripe 

 from the base of the under mandible or moustache of that color 



Although the specimen now described does bear a considerable resemblance to 

 Pious notatus, Licht., which is expressly stated by Messrs. Hemprich and Ehrenberg, 

 in their description of Plcus cethhpicus, to be the case also in that species (Symbolge 

 Physicae, Aves, pt. 1,) it is clearly not the bird described by them nor that figured 

 by M. Ruppell, Syst. Uebers, pi. 36. P. cetlviopicus is regarded by M. Malherbe as 

 identical with P. nubicus, Boddaert, very probably correctly, to which the present 

 bird bears some resemblance also, but not in so great a degree as to P. notatus. 



This species I have taken the liberty of dedicating to the distinguished author of 

 the " Monographie des Pieidees." 



5. Picus vagatus, Cassin. 



Picus vagatus, Cassin, Proc Academy, Philada., 1863, p. 196. 



PLATE LII. Fig. 1. 



Belonging to the same group as Picus scalaris, Wagler, and resembling it in colors, 

 but much smaller than that or any allied species. 



Male. Head above scarlet, all the feathers being black at base, with small white 

 spots, which are more numerous on the front and vertex, stripes from the base of 

 the lower mandible and behind the eye black, from the base of the upper mandible 

 and another over and behind the eye sordid or brownish white. Back and exposed 

 surface of quills banded transversely with black and white, lohich on the hack are about 

 equal in toidth. Wing coverts black, with circular and oblong spots of white, upper 

 tail coverts black. Under parts brownish white, with circular and irregular spots of 

 black more numerous on the breast and sides and forming transverse bands on the 

 flanks. Tail feathers black, two outer feathers on each side with white bands. 

 Quills brownish black, with quadrangular or irregular spots of white on their outer 

 webs, and large circular spots of white on their inner webs. Bill and feet dark, 

 short feathers on the nares fuliginous. 



Total length about 5J inches, wing 2i, tail 2i inches. 



Hob. — Mexico ? Specimen in Academy Museum, Philada. 



Two specimens of this little species are in the Academy Museum from the Massena 

 collection, but are, unfortunately, without labels indicating locality. They are, how- 

 ever, strictly of the same form and generic character as the birds above mentioned, 

 and are probably from Mexico or Central America. This species is easily distin- 

 guished from all others of its intimate allies by its much smaller size as above de- 

 scribed. It is not larger than Picus minor. 



