THE WOODPECKERS. 125 



go in flocks, being usually solitary, must do a great deal 

 of good. 



They are found almost everywhere, usually as resi- 

 dents, but are absent from Australia, New Zealand, and 

 the Pacific region generally ; it is to be hoped that some 

 day measures will be taken for introducing them there 

 also, where they would be of the greatest service. They 

 can be kept in confinement, but are not often to be seen 

 in that condition ; and one at least of them is a familiar 

 garden bird in many parts of India. 



The Golden-backed Woodpecker (Brachyj^ternus 

 aurantius) is about as large in the body as the House- 

 Mynah, but is a longer-shaped bird, measuring about a 

 foot in length. It is very handsomely coloured, the back 

 being of an old-gold hue, while the face, neck, and under- 

 parts are marked with black and white, and a flaming 

 scarlet crest adorns the back of the head ; the pinion- 

 quills are black with white spots, and the tail all black. 

 The hen only differs from the cock in having the forehead 

 black with white spots ; the red on the male's head extends 

 right up to the root of the beak. Most young hens have 

 a plain black forehead, but some have it spotted. Young 

 birds have a yellow tinge on the white portions below. 

 The inner hind toe in this species is a mere rudiment, and 

 not noticeable till looked for. 



This Woodpecker is found all over India and Ceylon 

 in the plains, but not in the countries east of Bengal and 

 Cachar, where it is replaced by a very similar species 

 with no hind toe at all {Tiga javanensis). It is paler in 

 colour in Sind, and becomes darker in Southern India 



