170. D en d rop icu s ca rdin a l is . Cardinal Woodpecker.
Dmdrobates fulviscapus, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 237.
This little Woodpecker has a wide range over the colony. Victoria
shot at in the Karroo in January, and we have received it from
Rondebosch, Beaufort, Colesberg, and the Knysna. Mr. Atmore
has procured it near Eland’s Post, but as yet we have seen no
specimen from Natal. Mr. Buckley found it in the Transvaal and
also in Bamangwato, while Dr. Exton brought specimens from
Kanye. The following note is extracted from Mr. Andersson’s work:—
“ This pretty little Woodpecker, though it cannot be said to be
abundant, is the commonest of all those found in Damara and Great
Namaqua Land, and is also tolerably numerous at Lake N’gami. It
is a comparatively tame species, and is sometimes found singly, but
more often in pairs; it usually irequents trees of moderate size,
situated in the more scanty woods or on the banks of periodical
watercourses.”
Senor Anchieta has obtained it also at Humbe on the Cunene
river, and also at Caconda in Benguela; and Mr. Monteiro has
recorded its occurrence at Little Eish Bay.
It affects the dead stumps of Euphorbias and Aloes; and reminded
us, from this peculiarity, of the Indian P. maharattensis, which constantly
keeps to the “ Candelabra euphorbia ” of Ceylon. Le Vaillant
states that they lay from five to seven white eggs. A pair breed
annually in an old apple tree on Mr. Melck’s farm, at the Berg river,
and they had riddled the branches with their holes. We were too
late for the eggs in September, as the nests then contained young
birds.
General colour above, sepia-brown, barred all over with dirty-
yellow or white; forehead brown; top and back of head crimson;
under parts grey, striped on the breast, and barred on the belly and
vent with the colour of the back; shafts of the wing and tail
feathers, and underside of the latter, golden-vellow. Female
resembles the male, but has the crimson of head replaced by dark-
brown, approaching to black ; bill bluish-grey in male, black
in female; iris dark red [Buckley)-, bill greenish-slaty; legs and
toes green, tinged with slate-colour [Andersson). Length, 6"; wing,
3" 9"'; tail, 2" 6"'.
Fig. Malh. Monogr. Pic. pi. 43, figs. 1, 2, 3.
171. D en d bo p icu s men struu s . Red-vented Woodpecker.
Bend/robates griseocephalus, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 236.
This is a strictly South African species, and is not uncommon in
all wooded parts of the colony. Victorin found it at the Knysna
from May to July, and again in October; and Mr. Andersson also
procured specimens in the same locality. Mr. Atmore has sent
examples from Eland’s- Post, and Mr. Ayres remarks that in Natal
it frequents the dense bush, both on the coast and inland, and it
seems to occur on the Drakenberg mountains for their entire
extent, as Mr. Barratt shot two individuals on their northern slope,
near Macamac. Le Vaillant states that it breeds in holes of trees,
and lays four white eggs. This we can confirm: they are white and
shining, rather truncated at the obtuse end. Axis, 10" '; diam. 7".
General colour above, rich olive-yellow; crown of head, rump, and
upper tail-coverts, brilliant crimson;' sides of head and upper parts
cinereous. The female resembles the male in all except the crimson
crown, which in the former is cinereous; irides reddish. Length,
7" 6" '; wing, 4" 6" '; tail, 3” .
Fig. Malh. Monogr. Pic, ii. pi. 62.
Fam. YUNGIDiE.
172. Y unx p e c t o r a l i s . Red-breasted Wry-neck.
This very distinct species has been sent only from Natal and the
eastern districts of the colony. Mr. Ayres seems to have found it
not uncommon in the former country, and a very large series of
specimens was procured by Mr. Atmore in the neighbourhood of
Eland’s Post; it has also reached us from Butterworth, Transkei,
whence a single specimen was sent by Mr. Henry Bowker. It
occurs about Graham’s Town.
Above, brown, profusely variegated with fine markings of black,
and different shades of grey; a line of black feathers extends from
the crown of the head down the neck, ending between the shoulders;
outside webs of the wing-feathers barred with rufous; tail barred
with black; centre of chin and throat, deep chestnut; belly and vent