286 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



with a narrow pointed crest ; neck thick ; tail rather long, 

 cuneate. 



This genus, founded on the P. viridis of Europe, comprises a 

 number of nearly allied species, which are mostly green, with 

 crimson pileus in the male sex ; and chiefly differing in the 

 markings of the lower parts. The four central tail-feathers are 

 nearly equal; but the middle pair conceal the next. 



170. Gecinus squamatus, Vig. 



Picus, apud Vigors, P. Z. S. 1831 — Gould, Cent. Him. Birds, 

 pi. 48— Jard. and Selby, 111. Orn., 108— Blyth, Cat. 260— 

 HoRSF., Cat. 958 — P. dimidiatus apud Gray, Hardav., 111. Ind. 

 ZooL, 1. pi. 29, f. 1. 



The Scaly-bellied Green Woodpecker. 



Descr. — Above green, the rump and upper tail-coverts tinged with 

 yellowish ; a narrow dingy white superciliary stripe extending as 

 far as the nape, and a black line over this, continued narrowly 

 across the forehead; ear-coverts dusky-greenish; cheek-stripe 

 mixed black and white, and bordered by a pale line ; wings and 

 tail dusky-black, the former with the outer webs of the primaries 

 white-spotted ; the tail-feathers with white spots, or bars, on both 

 webs ; the bars on the secondaries and tertiaries pale greenish, and the 

 whole of the outer webs of these more or less suffused with green, 

 as are some of the medial tail-feathers ; beneath, dusky albescent- 

 greenish, pale on the chin and throat, and with a black line on 

 each side ; the abdominal feathers edged with black, imparting the 

 appearance of scales: head of the male, with the crest on the nape 

 and hind-neck, dull scarlet ; of the female, black, the feathers 

 margined with grey. 



Young birds have the upper plumage more or less obscurely 

 barred, and the colour of the lower parts is greener. 



Bill dusky above at base, the rest yellowish; legs greenish- 

 plumbeous. Length 13 to 14 inches; wing 6^ ; tail 5| ; bill to 

 front 1| ; foot 2f . 



This Green Woodpecker has only been found in the North- 

 west Himalayas ; extending as far as Nepal, but not to Sikim, 

 Adams states that it is pretty common in Cashmere. 



