SPHYRAPICUS THTROIDEUS.
“ The note of this species is very peculiar, and is appreciably different from that of any other of its family with which I am
acquainted. It is loud and o f much volume, but very guttural in tone, consisting. o f two or three short harsh syllables, quickly
repeated, and followed by a succession of rapidly pronounced trilling notes, in the same guttural tone. Mr. Nuttall would probably
have likened it to some such combination of letters as ' huk, kuk, Hr-r-r-r!
“ Some specimens have a few reddish feathers intercalated among the brownish ones of the chin, forming an imperfect spot
something like that of S. Williamsoni. In the majority of specimens, however, there is no red Upon the head or neck. The black
pectoral spot varies greatly in its purity and extent, being sometimes scarcely appreciable. The iris of both sexes is clear light
brown. The bill, legs, and feet are deep-leaden .bluish-black.”
Head and throat reddish brown, with obscure lines and spots of black; the male (?) has a small red spot on the chin, ’Back,
wing-coverts, flanks, and lower tail-coverts yellowish, striped transversely with white and black. A broad transverse band of black
on the upper part of the breast. Rump and upper tail-coverts white; middle o f abdomen yellow. Primaries and tail black,
irregularly spotted with white. Bill black; feet and tarsi bluish-black. The figures are o f the natural size.