490 Description of a New Species of Woodpecker. 



fore-part of neck, breast, sides and under wing coverts pale-cinere- 

 ous-brown. 



From Swainson's description of his P. meridionalis, it must re- 

 semble this bird very closely, differing chiefly in the number of 

 toes and relative length of quills. This differs from the P. pubes- 

 cus in the color of its under parts — in being smaller and having a 

 less conical bill. In their wonderful fondness for numerous genera 

 and sub-genera, many modern Ornithologists would no doubt place 

 this species in some one of the subdivisions of this class of birds. 

 But until some more natural and scientific basis of classification is 

 discovered, I prefer to prace it in the genus Picus of Linnaeus. — 

 The specimen from which this description is taken was shot in 

 Liberty County, Georgia, on the 14th of April, 1847. Its habits 

 appeared to be similar to those of the " pubesceus." There is no 

 rudiment of the first toe, but this may possibly be the result of an 

 arrest of development. Farther specimens will be necessary to 

 establish the species perfectly. I have named it "Lecontei," in 

 honor of my friend Joseph Le Conte, M. D., of Georgia — a young 

 naturalist of great zeal and ability, and who is particularly devoted 

 to the science of Ornithology. For the beautiful drawing which 

 accompanys this description, I am indebted to my friend Mr. Geo. 

 N. Lawrence, well known to Naturalists for his valuable contribu- 

 tions to the science. 



