284 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Char. — Lateral ridge prominent, near the culmen, which is 

 sharp and very slightly arched ; gonys hardly half the length of 

 the under mandible; toes short; anterior toe longer than the 

 versatile one ; claws very large ; neck long and slender ; head, with a 

 short compact crest ; wings and tail long, the latter cuneate. 



This is a very well-marked and distinct group, and contains the 

 giants of the family, so far as India is concerned, at all events. 

 They are, mostly, of black or sombre plumage, in general more or 

 less relieved with white. 



168. MuUeripicus pulverulentus, Temm. 



Picus, apud Temminck, pi. col. 389— Blyth, Cat. 244— 

 HORSF., Cat. 945 — P. Mackloti, "VVagler (the female) — P. Ja- 

 vensis, feem, apud Horsfield (the male) — P. Horsfieldii, female, 

 apud Wagl., (also the male) — P. Mackloti, Toyl. (the female). 

 The Large Slaty Woodpecker. 



Descr. — Head and neck above ashy, suffused with white, as if 

 powdered, especially on the forehead, lores and cheeks, and 

 gradually disappearing on the hind-neck ; the rest of the body 

 above, wings and tail, dull slaty -ash ; chin, throat, and neck in 

 front, for a short distance, deep saffron-yellow, ending in a point on 

 the middle of the neck ; lower parts ashy, with whitish specks and 

 streaks ; vent, and under tail-coverts, spotless brownish-ashy : a dull 

 crimson cheek-stripe alone distinguishes the male. 



Bill, iris, and feet, blackish (Cantor). 



Length 20 inches; wing 9^; tail nearly 8 ; bill at front 2\ ; foot 3f . 



This large Woodpecker has been found within our province only 

 in the Dehra Doon ; but it is stated to have been seen at Dar- 

 jeeling. It inhabits Arrakan and Burmah, extending down the 

 coast to Malaccca, Java, and other islands of Malayana. It is the 

 largest of Oriental Woodpeckers. 



169. MuUeripicus Hodgsoni, Jerdon. 



Hemilophus, apud Jerdon, Cat. No. 213— Jerdon, 111. Ind, 

 Orn., pi. 5. 



