FOR CAGES AND AVIARIES. 227 



number, whitish-yellow in colour, mottled with pale chest- 

 nut brown. 



Needless almost to remark that the Woodcock is highly 

 esteemed by epicures. 



THE WOODLARK. See wider Larks. 



THE WOODPECKERS. 



Properly speaking, these are not cage-birds ; but as they 

 are sometimes seen at shows it is perhaps advisable to 

 review them briefly here. None of them are common in 

 this country, but there are three well-known species. 



If kept in a cage, they should have one of, or at least 

 one cased with, metal, as they would readily bore through 

 one made of v/ood, and speedily effect their escape from 

 durance vile. 



The Greater Spotted Woodpecker. 



This bird is almost the size of a Thrush ; white on the 

 under and black on the upper surface of the body, to speak 

 generally, but the frontlet is buff; the nape and cheeks red; 

 a spot on each side of the neck, the saddle, and three 

 bars across the wings, white ; while the vent feathers and the 

 tips of the inner tail feathers are pinky red. Without 

 being exactly migratory it is of wandering habits. It breeds 

 in April in a hole in a tree, making no nest but laying 

 four or five white eggs on the bare wood. It is purely 

 insectivorous in its habits, and although it certainly bores 

 holes in trees must do a counterbalancing amount of good 

 by the destruction of many injurious insects, their eggs 

 and larvae. In young birds the whole of the head is 

 scarlet. 



The young may be reared on ants' eggs, insects and a 

 little meat. They do not readily become tame, nor will 

 they live very long in the house. 



