PICIN^E. 
Dendrobates Swains .* 
Bill as long as, or shorter than, the head, broad at the base ; the nostrils lateral, basal, and hidden by 
the projecting plumes. Wings long and pointed, with the second, third, and fourth quills nearly equal 
and longest. Tail moderate, graduated, and rigid. Tarsi shorter than the outer anterior toe. Toes 
unequal, and the outer posterior generally longer than the anterior ; the hind toe short and slendei , 
the claws long, compressed, and much arched. 
Most of the species of this genus are found in the woods of the continent of Africa, and a few in the forests of South 
America. Their habits and manners are very similar to those already noticed. 
1. D. fulviscapus ( til.) Swains. Le Vaill. Ois. d’Afr. t. 253. f. 1 , 
2. — Picus fuscescens Vieill. ; P. chrysopterus Cur,. ; Colaptes ? 
capensis Steph. 
2. D. abyssinicus (Hempr. & Ehrenb.) — Picus fuscescens Rupp. ; 
D. Hempricbii Rupp. Orn. Faun, von Nord-Ost Afr. t. 35. 
3. D. griseocephalus (Bodd.) PI. enl. 786. f. 2., Le Vaill. Ois. 
d’Afr. t. 24<). — Picus capeusis Gmel. ; P. caniceps Wagl. 
4. D. poliocephalus (Cuv.) Wagl. Syst. Av. sp. 47. 
5 . D. -. — Picus poliocephalus Swains. B. of W. Afr. ii. 
1 54. 
6. D. immaculatas Swains. B. of W. Afr. ii. 152., Riipp. Mus. 
Senck. iii. 1 lp., Ornith. Faun, von Nord-Ost Afr. t. 34. 
7. D. senegalensis (Gmel.) PL enl. 345. f. 2. — Picus tephrodops 
Wagl. ; P. striolatus Less. 
8. D. namaquus (Liclit.) Cat. Dupl. Berl. Mus. p. 17-, Le Vaill- 
Ois. d’Afr. t. 251, 252. — Picus mystaceus Vieill.', P. biannicus 
Cuv. ; P. diophrys Steph. 
Q. D. shoensis Riipp. Mus. Senck. iii. 120., Ornith. Faun, von 
Nord-Ost Afr. t. 33. 
10. D. goer tans (Gmel.) PI. enl. 320. 
1 1. D. percussus (Temra.) PI. col. 300, 391. — Picus Ruppelld 
Wagl. 
12. D. callonotus (Waterh.) Proc. Z. S. 1840. 182. 
13. D. olivaceus (Gray), Zool. Misc. p. 18. 
14. D. africanm (Gray), Zool. Misc. p. 18. 
15. D. passerinus (Linn.) Briss. Orn. ix. t. 4. f. 2. — Picus ma- 
culifrons Spix, Av. Bras. t. 56. f. 1. ; P. ruficeps Spix, Av. Bras, t. 
56. f. 2. 
Hemicercus Swains. f 
Bill short, broad at the base, and much compressed on the sides towards the tip ; the gonys long, aT1<1 - 
ascending upwards to the tip, which is acutely pointed ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and hidden by the 
projecting plumes. Wings long, reaching to the end of the tail, with the third, fourth, and fifth quills 
nearly equal and longest. Tail very short, broad, and even, with the end of each feather rounded. 
Tarsi as long as the inner anterior toe, and strong. Toes long, unequal ; the outer anterior toe rather 
shorter than the outer posterior one ; the hind toe short ; the claws moderate, compressed, and curved. 
These remarkable small birds are peculiar to the continent of India, its archipelago, and Africa. They are f° unt J 
solitary in the forests, perched on the boughs, or climbing round the branches. They are not shy, for when disturbs 
they fly only to a short distance, and then return to the same tree again. If excited, they erect not only the feathers o 
the head, but also those of the back, which gives them a singular appearance. Their food consists of the larvae of insects, 
that are found on the branches, or in the crevices of the bark. 
1. H. concretus (Reinw.) Swains. PI. col. 90. f. 1, 2. 4. H. rubiginosus Swains. B. of W. Afr. ii. p. 150. 
2. IT. canente ( Less.) Cent. Zool. t. 73. 5. II. . — Hemicercus rubiginosus Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1 8' ■ • 
3. II. cordatus (Jerd.) Madr. Journ. of Lit. & Sci. xi. p. 21 1. 402. 
* Mr. Swainson established the above generic name in 1837 (Class, of Birds, ii.p. 306.). 
t This genus was established in 1837 by Mr. Swainson (Class, of Birds, ii. p. 306.). 
September, 1845. 
