GREEN WOODPECKER. 



PIC A RLE. 



457 

 PICID^E. 



Gecinus viridis (Linnasus*). 



THE GREEN WOODPECKER. 



Picus viridis. 



Gecinus, F. Bo!e\. — Beak about as long as the head, hard, broad at the base, 

 compressed at the tip ; upper mandible slightly arched, ending abruptly, with a 

 shallow groove on each side running parallel to and near the culmen, and longer 

 than the lower mandible, which is pointed, and has the gonys nearer the tip 

 than the base and the tomia rounded. Nostrils basal, oval, covered with hair-like 

 feathers directed forwards. Tongue capable of great protrusion, beset at the tip 

 with horny barbs. Wings moderate ; the first primary very short, the fourth 

 longest, but the fifth nearly equal to it. Tail of twelve graduated rectrices, the 

 outer pair very short and overlying the next, which with the rest are pointed 

 and have stiff, decurved shafts, with hard webs. Tarsi strong, slightly feathered 

 in front above ; toes two before and two behind, the fourth, which is turned 

 backwards equal to the third ; claws strongly hooked, grooved and very sharp. 



The Green Woodpecker is the commonest, and therefore 



the best known of the British species of its Family, but its 



• Picus viridis, Linna-us, Syst. Nat. Ed, 12, i. p. 175 (1766). 

 f Isis, 1831, p. 542. 



