THE PIGMY PICULET. 
407 
another running from the angle of the mouth down the neck. The quill-feathers of the wings 
are deep brown, edged with sulphur-yellow. The whole of the under surface is yellow with a 
green tinge, and is profusely spotted with black. The total length of this species rather 
exceeds seven inches. 
The Piculets seem to bear the same proportion to the Woodpeckers as the merlin to the 
eagle, being about the size of sparrows and more slenderly framed. Their bills are shorter in 
proportion than those of the true Woodpeckers, and are rather deeper than wide at the base. 
Their wings are short and rounded, and their tails are also short. 
The Pigmy Piculet is a very pretty example of this little sub-family. It is a native of 
Southern America, and is generally found in the vast forests of that fertile land. It is a lively 
little creature, running quickly up the trunks of trees after the manner of the English 
PIGMY PICULET .— Picumnus mlnutus. 
creeper, but seldom appearing to use its tail in aid of its progress, or to seek its food on the 
tree-trunks in the usual Woodpecker fashion. In general it is seen among the branches, 
where it sits across the boughs when at rest, and hops quickly from one branch to another 
while searching after its food. 
It is not a gregarious bird, being generally found either singly or in pairs. The nest of 
this species is made in hollow trees, and its eggs are only two in number. 
This species is a remarkably pretty one, elegant in shape and delicately colored. The 
general color of the back and upper portions of the body is a very soft hair-brown, and the 
wings are also brown, but of a deeper hue. Over the back are scattered a few oval spots of a 
much lighter brown, each having a nearly black spot towards one end, and contrasting in a 
very pleasing manner with the delicate brown of the back. The tail is of the same dark 
brown as the wings, with the exception of the two central feathers, which are of a light fawn. 
The most striking portion of this bird is the top of the head, which is decorated with a bright 
scarlet crest-like crown, covered with velvety-black dots. The rest of the head and the back 
of the neck are jetty black, interspersed with white dots. The under surface of the body is 
pale brown variegated with the same curious spots as those of the back. In size this bird 
hardly exceeds a wren. 
