IYNGIPICUS RAMSAYI, Hargitt. 



Ramsay's Pygmy Woodpecker. 



Yungipicus aurantiiventris, Tweedd. P. Z. S. 1878, p. 943 (nee Salvad.). 

 Iyngipicus ramsayi, Hargitt, Ibis, 1881, p. 598; id. Ibis, 1882, p. 49. 



This fine species has been lately described by Mr. Hargitt, in 'The Ibis' for October 1881, from a couple 

 of specimens in the collection of Captain R. G. Wardlaw Ramsay. They were formerly in the collection 

 of the Marquis of Tweeddale, who identified them with 7. aurantiiventris of Salvadori. As Mr. Hargitt, 

 however, has rightly pointed out, they are much more nearly allied to I. temmincki of Celebes ; for, 

 like that species, they have an olive-coloured back. 



I. ramsayi is, indeed, one of the most distinct members of the genus to which it belongs, and is 

 especially interesting on account of its locality, which is said to be North-eastern Borneo. It is a 

 larger bird than I. temmincMi, and has a broad and complete scarlet band on the occiput ; the rump 

 is white, only slightly streaked with brown ; and one of its most characteristic features is undoubtedly 

 the uniform coloration of the quills and tail-feathers. 



At present only the male bird is known ; but we can easily imagine, from our knowledge of the colouring 

 of the sexes in other species of the genus that the female would only differ from the male in the want of 

 the occipital band. 



The following description is taken from Mr. Hargitt's paper on the genus Iyngipicus : — " Male. General 

 colour above dingy olive-brown, not barred ; the upper half of the back varied with white and striped 

 longitudinally ; rump and upper tail-coverts white, the latter striped with brown ; scapularies, wing-coverts, 

 and outer webs of quills (except a few of the inner secondaries, which are spotted with white) uniform 

 brown ; inner webs spotted ; tail uniform brown ; outer edge of the posterior half of crown and occiput 

 scarlet, forming a band, but not running onto the sides of the neck ; superciliary stripe continued down the 

 sides of the neck ; moustachial stripe dusky brown ; chest rich saffron-yellow ; underparts yellowish striped 

 with dusky brown." 



The figures in the Plate represent a life-sized male bird in two different positions ; and the picture has 



been drawn from the type specimen kindly lent to me by Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay. 



[R. B. S.j 



