ILLUSTRATIONS OF ORNITHOLOGY. 
CHRl r SOPTILUS KIRKII, Malherbe. 
Chrysoptilus kirkii, Jard., Ann. of Nat. Hist. vol. xx. p. 333, 1847 — 
Birds of Tobago. 
This bird was submitted to the examination of M. Malherbe, while 
in London, collecting materials for a monograph of the genus 
Picus : he considered it undescribed, and suggested the specific 
name which we have adopted above. The species most nearly allied 
to this, is the “ Petit pic de St. Domingue ” of Brisson, on which is 
founded the Picus passerinus, Linn. ; but it differs from that as 
well as from the P. affinis of Swain., in the markings of the wings 
and tail, and in the rump and upper tail-covers being red, whereas 
in the others these parts are olive or yellowish. Sent by Mr. Kirk 
from Tobago, the only locality from which we have seen specimens. 
The following note accompanied them : — “ Native. The note of 
this species is three syllables, sounding like the words, c Click, 
click, click,’ pronounced very sharply towards the end.” 
In the male, the crown of the head, with the rump and upper 
tail-covers are bright vermillion or scarlet ; the crown, towards the 
occiput shades into yellow, and the base of the feathers are greyish- 
black, and appear occasionally through the scarlet. The back, 
shoulders, and outer webs of the quills and secondaries are bright 
brownish-yellow, the small feathers on the shoulders having a pale 
\ ellow or reddish spot at the tip, and another about the centre of 
the shaft ; the inner webs of the quills and secondaries are umber 
brown, barred with yellowish-white ; the tail is dark umber brown, 
the outer feathers indistinctly clouded ; the cheeks and auriculars 
yellowish-brown, streaked along the shafts, and barred with yel- 
lowish-white ; the remaining under parts barred alternately with 
dark hair brown and yellowish-white, the pale bars being slightly 
narrower. The bill, legs, and feet, appear to have been blackish- 
> ue. The female is nearly in all respects similar, except in the 
scarlet part of the head being yellowish-brown, shading into a 
narrow nuchal collar of dull yellow; the tips of the feathers, in 
some lights, appear paler. 
The entire length, 6. 2. to 6. 5. ; of wing to end of longest quill, 
3. 4. to 6. 
15-2 
