172 EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE GEEEN WOODPECKEE. 

 (Gecinus viridis.) 



Plate 48, Fig. 15. 



The Green Woodpecker is a somewhat local resident, but is 

 generally distributed throughout the woodland districts of England 

 and Wales, becoming rarer north of Yorkshire. Its range is 

 somewhat restricted in Europe, being confined to the western 

 portions of the Paloearctic regions, and not extending to the 

 Arctic circle. 



For nesting purposes, many kinds of trees are selected ; poplars, 

 elms, oaks, chestnuts, and sycamores being amongst those which 

 are more frequently chosen. The hole is wonderfully round and 

 regular, and looks as if it had been made with a sharper instru- 

 ment than a bird's bill. 



The eggs are usually laid late in April or early in May ; they 

 are from five to seven and occasionally eight in number, and are 

 pure white, beautifully polished. They vary in length from 1'4 to 

 1'19 inch, and in breadth from 0"95 to 0"89 inch. They also vary 

 slightly in shape, some being blunter at the ends than others. 

 Their size prevents them being confused with those of any other 

 British Woodpecker. 



THE BLACK WOODPECKEE. 

 {Picus martins.) 



Plate 48, Fig. 9. 



The Black Woodpecker has been included in the list of British 

 birds by most ornithologists, and long lists of its alleged occur- 

 rences in our islands have been published. These have been 

 carefully investigated by Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun.,* with the result 

 that no authentic instance of the occurrence of the species in this 

 country can be substantiated. This fine bird is a resident in 

 the pine-forests of Central Europe as far south as the Pyrenees 

 and the mountains of Asia Minor. It is found as far north as 

 the Arctic circle ; and eastwards it extends across Siberia to the 

 north island of Japan. It is a resident in East Mongolia and the 



* Cf. Dresser, B. Eur., V., p. 12. 



