WOODPECKERS 119 



by design (Scobie, Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. Glasgow, 

 n.s., vol. iii. p. 253, and Laver, Essex Nat., vol. iii. 

 p. 93). Several instances have been reported from 

 time to time of Kingfishers perching on an angler's 

 rod held in hand while fishing. 



Fam. PICID^. 



GREEN WOODPECKER. Picus viridis, Linngeus. PL 

 16, figs. 3, 4, 5. Length, 12-5 in. ; bill, 1*75 in. ; wing, 

 6 "5 in. ; tarsus, 1"25 in. 



Resident in England, but rarely met with north 

 of the Solway or Tweed. It was formerly so rare in 

 Cornwall that Mr. Rodd had only once or twice met 

 with it in thirty years' experience [Zool., 1876, p. 

 4796). In 1882, however, it had become much less 

 rare, and was stated to be breeding in that county 

 ("Birds of Cornwall," 1880, p. 65). 



There is a specimen in the Dunrobin Museum 

 from Bonar, Sutherland. In 1876, according to the 

 late W. Reid, of Wick, the Green Woodpecker had 

 not been met with in Caithness. It is a rare visitant 

 to Orkney, where one or two specimens have been 

 procured. 



In Ireland it has been obtained only twice, viz., 

 at Granard, Co. Longford (Thompson, Nat. Hist. P-e- 

 land, App., p. 441), and at Sallymount, Co. Kildare 

 (Watters, "Birds of Ireland," p. 97). 



The European Picus canus is figured (PI. 16, 

 figs. 6, 7) for comparison with P. viridis, and with 

 the Spanish form P. sharpii, which has a grey face. 



