( Picus Viridis . ) 



By CLAUD DRUITT. 



Read before the General Meeting^ February 2nd^ 1893. 



rr^HIS bird is the most common of our English wood- 

 -■- peckers. It is pretty well distributed over the 

 midland and southern counties, and throughout Wales. 

 There are, I believe, only two authenticated records of its 

 capture in Ireland, and only one in Scotland. 



The family of woodpeckers is, however, nowhere abun- 

 dant ; and most authorities seem to agree that, in the British 

 Isles at any rate, their numbers are rather on the decrease 

 than on the increase. 



The green woodpecker has been described by some as an 

 " awkward " bird ; but I think those who have spent any 

 time in watching its habits, will agree that this title is 

 altogether undeserved. 



No one will deny, however, that it is a handsome bird. 

 The upper plumage is dull green, passing into bright yellow 

 at the tail coverts. The outer webs of the wing feathers are 

 prettily barred with white. The crown, back of the head, 

 and moustache of the male bird are crimson. 



The female is distinguished from her mate by having less 

 crimson on the top of the head, and b}'' the black moustache. 

 From the middle of the latter gleams out the keen-sighted 

 eye with its white iris. 



The young bird is of a gresnish ash colour, speckled and 

 spotted with dark brown, which colour is also dispersed in 

 bars across the breast. 



122 



