BIRDS — PICIDAE — PICOIDES. 



97 



black of the occiput appears to extend to the eye in an angle. The white of the head scarcely 

 extends down on the neck. 



The P. dlbdlarvatus was first described by Mr. Cassin from specimens collected in California 

 by J. Gr. Bell. It is an exceedingly rare species, not more than three or four skins being known 

 to exist in collections. 



Idst of specimens. 



PICOIDES, Lace p. 



Picoides, Lacep. Mem. Inst. 1799. 

 TridactyUtt, Steph. Shaw, Gen. 2ool. 1815. 

 ^ptemus, Sw. P. B. A. II, 1831, 311. 



Bill about as long as the head, very much depressed at the base ; the outlines nearly straight ; the lateral ridge at its base 

 much nearer the commissure than the culmen, so as to bring the large rather linear nostrils closeto the edge of the commissure. 

 The gonys very long, equal Jo the distance from the nostrils to the tip of the bill. Feet with only three toes ; the outer 

 lateral a little longer than the inner, but slightly exceeded by the hind toe, which is about equal to the tarsus. Wings very 

 long, reaching beyond tiie middle of the tail ; 4th and 5th quills longest. Color blacli:, with a broad patch of yellow on the 

 crown ; transversely banded on the sides. Quills with round spots. 



The peculiarities of this genus consist in the absence of the inner hind toe and the great 

 depression of the bill. 



The American species of Picoides (and to a considerable extent the European) agree in being 

 black above and white beneath ; the crown with a square yellow patch ; a white stripe behind 

 the eycj and another from the local region beneath the eye ; the quills (but not the coverts) 

 spotted with white; the sides banded transversely with black. The diagnostic characters 

 (including the European species) are as follows: 



A. Middle 'of back not varied with white. 



Back uniformly black p, arcticus. 



B. Middle of back varied with white. 



Back with transverse bands of white. White stripes on side of head narrow, incon- 

 spicuous. Crissum but slightly banded with black. Two inner tail feathers 

 black P. hirsutm. 



Back streaked longitudinally with white. Sides banded with black. Crissum pure white. 

 Two inner tail feathers black P, dorsalis. 



Back streaked longitudinally with white, the sides with black. White lines on the side 

 of head very conspicuous. Three inner tail feathers black. Crissum much varied 



with black ^ P. tridactylus. 



13 b 



