250 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
the back and wings the green feathers are tipped with 
yellow, all the under surface much the same as the 
adult, but streaked longitudinally on the neck, and 
transyersely on the breast and belly, with greyish 
black.* The green colour on the under surface in- 
creases with age. There seems to be an occasional 
variety in the plumage of this bird: the tips of the 
wings for about two inches down each feather, and 
nearly the whole of the tail-feathers, being of a rusty 
brown colour. + 
The eggs are a pure shining white, much about 
the size of those of the Missel Thrush. 
GREATER SporreD WoopreckEr, Picus major. 
This bird is by no means so common as the last- 
mentioned species, and is considerably more local in 
distribution : it is resident throughout the year. In 
habits and manners, as well as in food, it somewhat 
resembles the Green Woodpecker, except that it 
does not resort so much to the ground in search of 
ants, grubs and worms, but confines itself more to 
the various grubs and insects to be found about and 
under the bark of trees: it, however, varies its food 
a little by occasionally taking grain, nuts and the 
seed of the pine. Like the last species it places its 
eggs in a hole in a tree, without any nest: like it, 
too, it 1s a moderately early nester, the young birds 
* Yarrell, vol: i1.,'p. 152. 
+ ‘ Zoologist’ for 1867 (Second Series, p. 950). 
