YHE WOODPECKERS. 125 
by other birds, and, although they do not 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 WoOoDPECKER (Brachypternus 
aurantius) is about as large in the body as the House- 
Mynah, but is a longer-shaped bird, measuring about a 
foot in length. Itis very handsomely coloured, the back 
being of an old-gold hue, while the face, neck, and 
underparts 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 (Liga javanensis). It is paler in 
colour in Sind, and becomes darker in Southern India 
