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Allen Silver,



with a dusty olive tinge ; thighs and under tail-coverts, washed with

yellow ; tail, black ; pointed nuchal crest, bright golden yellow ; bill,

bluish-white ; iris, red ; eyelids and naked skin at gape, greenish blue.

This Woodpecker is an inch longer than the common Green Wood¬

pecker of England, etc. Gould terms it “ this noble bird ”.


My specimen, evidently hand-reared, delights in coming out of

his cage on to anyone’s shoulder, where he plays a sort of peep-bo

from one side of one’s head to the other, extending his long pink

tongue, which quiveringly tickles one’s neck, ears, and even teeth if

one opens one’s mouth.


He seems to delight in human companionship, chattering softly

at moments, and looking altogether fascinating and intelligent.

A young male. The female has a chestnut throat, where his is lemon

or butter yellow. Until he came to me I was not aware that Wood¬

peckers greedily eat fruit. He digs into a pear or apple, extracting

large mouthfuls ; and wine-berries, blackberries, etc., are all welcomed.

Offer him some wasp-cake, and see his tongue flick out the grubs.

Most entertaining !


Never did I have a more charming pet, and I have had a good

many in my day. If he sang like a Shamah, he would be the perfect

bird; as it is, his notes up till now consist of a soft chattering, and also

a louder and melodious “chip ”, if one whistles it.



BIRD-LIFp: IN 1918.


By Allen Silver.


(Continued from p 199.)


Thrushes.


Missel Thrush .—Has done well, many parties noticeable

everywhere.


Song Thrush .—Has “ got over ” the punishing of the 1916-17

frost, and had all my gooseberries in Suburbia. Quite as many every¬

where as are needful.


Redwing .—Big flocks in Huntingdon, 1917-18, but did not see

so many in Suffolk and Essex myself.



