72. _Gecinus chlorolophus_. The small Himalayan yellow-naped
woodpecker. This species is distinguishable from the last by its small
size, a crimson band on each side of the head, and the nape being
golden yellow.
73. _Pyrrhopicus pyrrhotis_. The red-eared bay woodpecker. The head
is brown. The rest of the upper plumage is cinnamon or chestnut-red
with blackish cross-bars. There is a crimson patch behind each ear,
which forms a semi-collar in the male. This species seeks its food
largely on the ground.
In addition to the above, two tiny little woodpeckers much smaller
than sparrows are common in the Eastern Himalayas. They feed on the
ground largely. They are:
74. _Picumnus innominatus_. The speckled piculet.
75. _Sasia ochracea_. The rufous piculet. The former has an
olive-green forehead. In the latter the cock has a golden-yellow
forehead and the hen a reddish-brown forehead.
THE CAPITONIDAE OR BARBET FAMILY
76. _Megalaema marshallorum_. The great Himalayan barbet.
77. _Cyanops franklini_. The golden-throated barbet. About the size
of a bulbul. General hue grass green tinged with blue. The chin and
throat are golden yellow. The forehead and a patch on the crown are
crimson. The rest of the crown is golden yellow. The call has been
syllabised as _kattak-kattak-kattak_.
THE ALCEDINIDAE OR KINGFISHER FAMILY
78. _Ceryle lugubris_. The Himalayan pied kingfisher.
THE BUCEROTIDAE OR HORNBILL FAMILY
Hornbills are to be numbered among the curiosities of nature. They
are characterised by the disproportionately large beak. In some
species this is nearly a foot in length. The beak has on the upper
mandible an excrescence which in some species is nearly as large as
the bill itself. The nesting habits are not less curious than the
structure of hornbills. The eggs are laid in a cavity of a tree. The
hen alone sits. When she has entered the hole she and the cock plaster
up the orifice until it is only just large enough to allow the
insertion of the hornbill's beak. The cock feeds the sitting hen
during the whole period of her voluntary incarceration.
Several species of hornbills dwell in the forests at the foot of the
Himalayas, but only one species is likely to be found at elevations
above 5000 feet. This is the rufous-necked hornbill.
79. _Aceros nepalensis_. The rufous-necked hornbill. In this species
the casque or excrescence on the upper mandible is very slight. It
is a large bird 4 feet long, with a tail of 18 inches and a beak of
8-1/2 inches. The hen is wholly black, save for a little white in
the wings and tail. In the cock the head, neck, and lower parts are
bright reddish brown. The rest of his plumage is black and white.
In both sexes the bill is yellow with chestnut grooves. The naked
skin round the eye is blue, and that of the throat is scarlet. The
call of this species is a deep hoarse croak.
THE CYPSELIDAE OR SWIFT FAMILY
80. _Cypselus affinis_. The common Indian swift.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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