THE GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECIvER 



PICUS MAJOR. 



Crown and upper plumage black ; a crimson patch on the back of the head ; a 

 white spot on each side of the neck ; scapulars, lesser wing-coverts, and under 

 plumage white ; abdomen and under tail-coverts crimson ; iris red. Female — 

 without the crimson on the head. Length nine inches and a half, breadth 

 fourteen inches. Eggs glossy white. 



In habits this bird closely resembles the Green Wood- 

 pecker. It is of less common occurrence, but by no means 

 rare, especially in the wooded districts of the southern 

 and midland counties. A writer in the Zoologist''' is of 

 opinion that it shows a decided partiality to fallen timber. 

 "In 1849," he says, "a considerable number of trees were 

 cut down in an open part of the country near Melbourne, 

 which were eventually drawn together and piled in lots. 

 These lay for some time, and were visited almost daily by 

 Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Their habits and manners 

 were very amusing, especially whilst searching for food. 



* Vol. viii. p. 3115. 



