442 PICID^. 



is only, however, in the hottest and densest forests of the districts bordering the 

 Atlantic Ocean that C. castaneus is found occurring in such places, from the Mexican 

 State of Vera Cruz to Nicaragua and Costa Eica. We have no record of its occurrence 

 in any of the forests of the districts on the Pacific side of the mountain-range, though 

 many such exist apparently suitable to its habits. 



In Guatemala it is strictly confined to the vast forest-tracts of Vera Paz which stretch 

 from Coban to the Mexican frontier, and to the lower portion of the Valley of the 

 Polochic river beyond the village of Teleman. 



Celeus castaneus has no very near allies — C. grammicus of Guiana and the Amazons 

 Valley being, perhaps, its nearest relative, a species differing in many points. 



In Yucatan Dr. Gaumer says ^^ this Woodpecker is very rare, and during a whole 

 year he only saw two specimens. He noticed that the bird had a strong and peculiar 

 odour, which he supposed to be derived from its food, which consists exclusively of a 

 small Hyraenopterous insect known as the "Uss." He adds that C. castaneus is solitary 

 in its habits, living in the deepest part of the forest. The specimens obtained were 

 very tame ; they jumped nimbly about the trees, constantly catching the small insects 

 which seem to be attracted to them by their odour. 



2. Celeus loricatus. 



Meiglyptes loricatus, Reich. Scansores^ Picinse, p. 405, t. 681. figg. 4495-96 \ 



Celeus loricatus, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1879, p. 533 "; Zeledon, An. Mus. Nac. Costa Eica, 1887, 



p. 124 ' ; Hargitt, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xviii. p. 432 \ 

 Celeus mentalis, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 137 ' ; Journ. Ac. Phil. v. p. 461, t. 52. figg. 2, 3 ° 



Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 367". 

 Celeus fraseri, Malh. Mon. Pic. ii. p. 16, t. 43 bis, fig. 5 '. 

 Celeus squamatus, Lawr. Ibis, 1863, p. 184°; Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 11'°. 



Supra rufescenti-castaneus, interscapulio fere imioolore, dorso toto at tectricibus supracaudalibus pallidioribus 

 nigro fasciatis, occipite rufescenti-castaneo, frontis plumis medialiter nigris; alls rufescenti-castaneis, 

 seoundariis et tectricibus omnibus lineis angustis nigris sparsim transfasciatis, remigibus nigricantibus 

 castaneo guttatis : subtus oohraceo-albidus, plumis omnibus fascia distincta subterminali nigra, pectore 

 castaneo lavato, mento et stria utrinque rictali coccineis, subalaribus castaneis ; cauda nigra, pallide 

 castaneo regulariter transfasciata ; rostro corneo ; pedibus plumbeis. Long, tota circa 8-0, alse 4-8 

 caudae 2-8, rostri a rictu 1-0, tarsi 0-7, dig. med. absque ungue 0-75, dig. ext. 0*6. (Descr. maris ex 

 Veraguas, Panama. Mus. nostr.) 



5 mari simUis, mento et striis rictalibus castaneis, colore coccineo nullo. 



Hai. Costa Eica, Talamanca, Jimenez (Zeledon ^) ; Panama, Veraguas (Arce), Lion Hill 

 {M'Leannan'^ % Turbo {W. 8. & C. J. PfoocZS).— Colombia 2; W. EcuadokS; 

 N. Pbeu 1. 



Specimens of this distinct species have been obtained from various places scattered 

 over a wide area of North-western South America, but in very small numbers ; never- 

 theless the names bestowed upon the bird are, unfortunately, many. Messrs. Wood, 

 who accompanied Lieut. Michler's expedition to Darien, first obtained specimens in our 



