PiciN^. 269 



and even (it is said) eggs. They all breed in holes of trees, laying- 

 several shining white eggs. They are mostly denizens of the forest; 

 a few only, in India, frequenting gardens, groves and avenues. 



Woodpeckers are called, in the South of India, Lakhar-phor, 

 H. ; Kat-tokra, in Bengal ; Kat-harya at Mussooree ; Sat-ranga 

 at Muttra ; Manu-tolachi, Tel., and Maj^ram toIasJii, Tam : all of these 

 names signifying wood-splitters, or tree-chippers. Some Telugu 

 shikarees call them Siruta-pachi, i. e., the " castanet-bird," from 

 their quick rapping on trees. The Lepchas alone, of any race I 

 have come across, have distinctive appellations for several species. 



The relations of this family Avith others of the tribe are not 

 very clear. Some suppose that they join the CuculidcB by means 

 of Yunx and Indicator. Other systematists maintain their aflSnity 

 to the Megalaimid<2 or Barbets, and, indeed, class them together : 

 but, in both cases, many links are wanting, and they are nearly as 

 isolated a family as the Parrots. 



Woodpeckers are divided into several subfamilies, differing in the 

 form of the bill, the strength of the feet, and the mode of coloration. 



Sub-fam. PiciNiE, Gray. 



Bill perfectly wedge-shaped, compressed ; culmen straight ; tlie 

 lateral ridge well marked, more or less median ; gonys long ; the 

 outer posterior toe longer than the anterior one ; wings rather long. 



The typical Woodpeckers are birds of black and white plumage, 

 and mostly of small or median size. 



Gen. Picus, L., as restricted. 



Syn. Dryobates, Boie and Gray : Dendrocopus, Swainson. 



Char. — Bill moderate, compressed, with the culmen straight 

 and sharp ; the lateral ridge distinct, midway between the culmen 

 and margin, and joining the margin about its middle ; gonys long, 

 barely angulated ; versatile toe longer than the anterior. 



The birds of this group have the pkimage above black, some- 

 times spotted or banded with white, and more or less streaked below. 



154. Picus Himalayanus, J. and S. 



Jard. and Selby, 111. Orn., pi. 116— Blyth, Cat. 287— 

 HoiiSF., Cat. 980. 



