282 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



the rest of the body, below, and lining of the wings, white, 

 transversely barred with black. 



The female has the cap black, with a white drop on each feather. 



Bill and legs slaty, the latter with a greenish tinge ; irides bufFy- 

 yellow. Length about 2^ inches ; extent 20 ; wing 6| to nearly 7 ; 

 tail 4 ; bill at front li to 1| ; foot 3| ; weight 6 oz. 



This fine Woodpecker is found throughout India, in hilly and 

 wooded regions chiefly. I have observed it in Malabar, on the 

 summit of the Neilgherries, and rarely in Sikim. Tickell found it in 

 Central India, and Hodgson obtained it in Nepal. Mr. Blyth pro- 

 cures it occasionally in the vicinity of Calcutta. It likewise extends 

 into Assam, Burmah, and the Malayan peninsula. I have seen it, 

 occasionally, at a low level in Malabar ; but it prefers hilly forests, 

 and is tolerably abundant in the thick woods of the Neilgherries. 

 It has a high-pitched, faint, screaming note ; quite unlike the loud 

 and harsh call of Brachypternus aurantius. 



From Mr. Plodgson's description, it appears to attain laro-er 

 dimensions in Nepal than elsewhere ; for he gives the length as 15 

 inches, extent 23, and 9 oz. in weight. One that I procured at 

 Darjeeling, however, did not differ materially from the smaller 

 dimensions given above ; and Mr. Blyth tells me that Mr. Hodg- 

 son's own Nipalese specimens were not larger than others from 

 Bengal, Malacca, &c. The iris in this species, I have always found 

 to be yellow. Hodgson says, carmine. 



167. Chrysocolaptes Goensis, Gmel. 



Picus, apud Gmelin — Dendroc. Elliotti, Jerdon, Cat. 208— 

 Blyth, Cat. 249— C. melanotus, Blyth, J. A. S. XII., 1005— 

 Jerdon, 2nd Suppl. Cat. 208— PI. enl. 696. 



The Black-backed Woodpecker. 



Descr. — Crown and occiput of the male, splendid crimson ; fore- 

 head, mingled black and white ; lores white ; a white streak 

 begins behind the eye, and is continued to the nape, the entire 

 hind-part of the neck being wholly white, and extending down 

 upon the interscapulars ; the rest of the back, the scapulars, rump, 



