COLAPTES CHBYSOIDES.
MALHERBE'S GOLDEN-WIKGED WOODPECKER.
GEOPIOUS CHRTSOIDES. Malh. Rev. et Mag. Zool. (1852), p. 553.—Ib. Mon. Picidse.
COLAPTES CHRTSOIDES. Baird. B. of N. Amer., pi 125.
Althodqh combining in its plumage the characteristic markings of C. Auratm and C. Mexicarm, yet the present species is distinct from
both, and rather inferior to each of its relatives in size. Malherbe first described the bird, from a specimen of a female contained in the Paris
Museum, and although he was led to believe it came from America, he was unable to leam the locality where it was killed. It was obtained by
Mr. Schott, on the line of the Mexican boundary survey, but here, also, the precise locality was not given. Mr. Xantus, however, procured it at
Cape St. Lucas in Lower California, where he reported it to be very abundant.
No account whatever has been recorded of either its economy or habits, but without doubt, in both respects, it resembles those species to
which it is so intimately related.
It may be described as follows: Top of head light reddish brown; upper parts ashy brown, barred transversely with black. Rump white,-
upper tail-coverts white, conspicuously barred with black. Shafts of wing feathers, and entire under part of wing gamboge-yellow. Throat ash,
a broad mustache of red on side of'throat; a broad band on upper part of breast, and round spots on feathers o f under parts black. Under
parts light brown. Tail black, basal portions yellow. Bill black. Female without mustache. The figures are size of life.