SASIA ABNORMIS. 



Malayan Piculet. 



Picumnus abnormis, Temm. PI. Col., 371. fig. 3.— Less. Traited'Orn., p. 231 ; Man. d'Orn., tom.ii. p. 115.— Wagl. 



Isis, 1829, p. 646. 

 Sasia abnormis, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 433, Sasia, sp. 1 .— Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus Asiat. 



Soc. Calc., p. 65.— Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., torn. i. p. 140, Sasia, sp. 1.— Horsf. & Moore, Cat. of Birds 



in Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol. ii. p. 678. 

 Microcolaptes abnormis, G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, p. 54 ; 2nd edit., p. 70.— Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. 



Beng., vol. xiv. p. 191.— Gray, Cat. of Gen. and Subgen. of Birds in Brit. Mus., p. 91. 

 Picumnoides abnormis, Malh. Mon. des Picides, vol. ii. p. 286, vol. iv. pi. 115. fig. 1. 



In my account of the foregoing species (JS. ochracea), I have omitted any observations on the structure of the 

 feet of the singular birds forming the genus Sasia ; I mean more particularly any allusion to the total 

 absence of a fourth toe — a circumstance which affords a very striking instance of the diversity of form which 

 is found to occur in the structure of the feet of birds, and which at once points out the propriety of 

 separating these Piculets from the members of the genera Vivia and Picumnus. This deprivation of what 

 would seem to be a very important member appears to be fully compensated by the great development 

 of the hind toe and claw, the lengthened form of which doubtless enables them to cling with perfect security 

 to the smaller branches of the fallen trees lying prostrate in the dense and humid forests where it is believed 

 they principally dwell, and subsist upon insects the forms and structure of which are entirely unknown to 

 us. I may remark, further, that this singular deprivation is doubtless designed for some special purpose, 

 most likely to assist them in some particular mode of progression ; for that they must principally depend 

 upon their feet to remove them from one place to anotber is certain, their wings being too round and too 

 feeble to admit of their flying to any great distance ; nor can they derive much aid from their tail, for which 

 the word little is the most appropriate that can be employed with reference to it, and which they cannot use 

 in any way after the manner of the members of the genera Picus and Certhia. 



In size and general colouring but little difference occurs in the two only known species of the genus ; but 

 a conspicuous distinguishing, superciliary stripe is, I believe, always present in the more northern species 

 (JS. ochracea). 



Malherbe states that the peninsula of Malacca and the Sonda Islands are the habitats of this species ; it 

 is also said to be found in Java. Mr. Wallace brought specimens to England from the first-mentioned country. 



Of its nidification, and the number and colour of its eggs, nothing has been ascertained. 



Forehead yellow ; crown, nape, back, and wings greenish olive, passing into ochre-yellow on the upper tail- 

 coverts ; all the under surface ochreous red ; tail black ; shoulders or wing-coverts dusky ; bill lead-colour, 

 becoming yellowish on the base of the under mandible ; irides pale brown ; naked orbits red ; feet pale red. 



The figures are of the natural size. 



