BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



139 



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The Green ^^'oodpecker {Gecijius viridis, Linnceus) is a 

 resident species in the British Islands, and also met with 

 in the Western Palearctic Region ; northwards to South 

 Scandinavia, and ranging southwards to the Mediterranean 

 and the Pyrenees. The adult male has the crown of the 

 head and nape scarlet, with grey bases ; lores, cheeks, ear- 

 coverts, and feathers round eye, black ; moustachial band, 

 black, washed with crimson ; mantle, dull light green ; 

 rump, yellow; wings and tail, dark greenish-brown, the 

 latter obscurely barred with darker; primaries, dusky, 

 barred on outer web with white ; under parts, yellowish- 

 grey, tinged with greyish-green ; irides, whitish ; bill, dark 

 grey, blackish at tip and paler at base beneath ; legs and 

 feet, dark grey. Length, between eleven and twelve inches. 

 The female shows no scarlet on the moustacliial lines. 



