picumnin^. 301 



The Speckled Piculet. 



Descr. — Above yellowisli-green, duller and somewhat ashy ou 

 the head, nape, and ears, and bright on the back and on the edges 

 of the secondaries*; beneath white, tinged Avith yellow, oeellatcd 

 with black from the chin to the breast, and from thence to the tail 

 cross-barred with black : two white lines down the sides of the head 

 and neck: frontal zone pale yellow : forehead cbesnutin nudes, 

 in females dark green ; wings dusky-brown, devoid of bars inter- 

 nally ; two central tail-feathers black on the outer web, white on 

 tlie iimer ; tire next four are wholly black ; all the remainder being 

 black, but whitish on their outer webs and tips. 



Bill plumbeous ; irides brown ; legs plumbeous. Length 4 inches ; 

 extent 7^ ; wing 2| ; tail 1^ ; bill at front /^ ; stretch of foot 

 1§ ; weight ^ oz. 



This interesting little bird is found throughout the Ilimalavas, 

 and in no other locality that 1 am aware of. Its range extends, so far 

 as known, fron\ 3,000 to 0,000 feet or so. It is f oimd in tangled 

 brushwood, and among dead and fallen trees in damp spots, hunting 

 about among the decaying bark for various insects. It is s;ud to 

 breed in holes of trees. 



Its nearest ally is the Picitmnus mimttus of Temminck, from 

 South America and the West Indies, which is very similar in 

 coloring, but has a stronger bill, with the head red on the forehead, 

 black with white spots posteriorly, like so many Woodpeckers. 

 There are several other species from the same region, as before 



remarked. 



Gen. Sasia, Hodgson. 



S}i^. Mici'ocohtptes, Gray — PicumnotihSf Temminck — Comms, 



Ilodgs. 



Char. — INIuch as in Vivta : bill somewhat longer and broader, its 

 base more furnished with tufts of hair; wings equal to the tail; the 

 5t.h and 0th quills equal and longest ; the feet threo-toed ; the hind 

 being stout and h'lrgo, about equal to the outer fore; the nails 

 are long, straightish. and blunt. 



187. Sasia ochracea, Hodgson. 



J. A. S., v., 778 — liLYTU, Cat. 310— lloiiSF., Cat. 09.")— 5«.<j/(i 

 of Nopal — Chim-pho, Lepch. 



