PICUS MAUEITANUS. 



(MOORISH PIED WOODPECKER.) 



"Picus mauritanus, auct. (P. lunatus, auct.)," L. Brehm, Naumannia, 1855, p. 274. 

 Picus numidicus (nee Malh.), Reichenb. Scans. Picinse, p. 366. no. 844 (1854). 

 Picus numidicus (partim), Sharpe & Dresser, B. of Eur. v. p. 33 (1871). 

 Dendrocopus mauritanus (Brehm), Hargitt, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xviii. p. 216 (1890). 



JVakab, Moorish. 



Fig ura unica. 

 Reichenb. op. cit. pi. dcxxxiii. figs. 4213, 4214. 



Ad. P. majori similis, sed lineis nigris in pectoris lateribus magis extensis, nee conjunctis sicut in P. numidico, 

 sed centraliter plaga albida ruhro notata separatis : abdomine magis rubro notato : rectricibus lateribus 

 magis conspicue nigra fasciatis quam in P. numidico. 



Adult Male (Tangier, May) . Upper parts as in Picus major ; imderparts with the broad stripes which 

 border the throat and fore neck extended much further than in P. major, but not uniting as in 

 P. numidicus, there being a narrow white space between on which the feathers are tipped with scarlet ; 

 abdomen and under tail-coverts much more scarlet than in P. major, and even, as a rule, than in 

 P. numidicus, and the lateral tail-feathers much more distinctly barred with black than in the latter 

 species. Total length about 8 inches, culmen 1*15, wing 4"9, tail 3"25, tarsus 09. 



Adult Female (Tangier, May) . Differs from the male only in lacking the red occipital band. Total length 

 about 7'75 inches, culmen 1*15, wing 4'9, tail 28, tarsus - 85. 



The present species inhabits Morocco, where it replaces P. major and P. numidicus, being a form 

 intermediate between these two species. According to Col. Irby, Favier records it as " resident 

 and common in the vicinity of Tangier, being found only in large woods, where they nest in holes 

 of trees, laying from five to six eggs, similar to those of P. major "; but Col. Irby adds (Orn. Str. 

 Gibr. 1875, p. 71) that he himself "did not find this bird •common' near Tangier; and as for the 

 ' large woods,' there are none close to that town ; about Tetuan this Woodpecker is plentiful, 

 similar in habits to P. major. Favier states that they migrate across the Straits ; but I should 

 say this can hardly be the case. I have seen and shot many specimens of P. major in 

 Andalucia, but never met with the African form, although three or four of the Spanish birds 

 had some few crimson feathers on the breast." 



Dr. C. Bolle speaks of this Woodpecker as being common in Morocco in localities where 

 there are pine-trees; and Mr. Tyrwhitt Drake met with it (Ibis, 1867, p. 425) in the mountains 

 of Tetuan, but beyond the above notes, I find nothing on record respecting it. 



I have received many specimens from a collector at Tangier, but he has not succeeded in 



2s 



