Family PICIDAE. 

 (Plates 85—88). 



The eggs of all the genera of this Family have an enamelled 

 appearance; among the Picinae, breeding in this country, this is 

 especially the case with Gecinus viridis. 



Picinae-eggs are furthermore frequently characterized — espe- 

 cially at the pointed end — by furcated longitudinal grooves; these 

 occur more particularly in the case of eggs of Drendrocopus major. 



In texture the genera Gecinus and Dendrocopus only differ in so 

 far that of the latter it is slightly finer. 



Where Nozeman *), in the case of G. viridis, speaks of „ faintly 

 clouded" eggs, and in that of D. major of „faintly speckled" 

 eggs, this undoubtedly indicates as regards the former species, 

 nothing else but accessory spots and marks caused by humus acids, 

 etc. in the breeding holes; as regards the latter, excrements of nest 

 parasites. 



In respect of Hardy's 2 ) statement that a green coloured set of 

 eggs of Gecinus viridis together with the female bird were once 



J ) Nozeman, Houttuyn en Sepp, Nederlandsche Vogelen, I, pages 43 and 41. 

 2 ) See Yarrell, I.e., vol. II, p. 259, 2nd note. 



