The Green Woodpecker. 17 
placed on each side of the keel, it must necessarily 
be high to protect the larger muscles of the stock 
dove. The Woodpecker has of course much smaller 
pectoral muscles, and consequently less power of 
flight, but since climbing is much more essential to 
this bird than long flights, the low keel is of immense 
advantage to it. 

Fie. 4. 
Breast-bone of Stock Dove. 
From nature. Natural size. 
Having thus briefly examined the anatomy of the 
Woodpecker, let us now pass on to its habits. 
Although so lovely, and therefore the more likely to 
be destroyed by man, we are glad to say that it is still 
fairly common in the wooded districts of England. 
It is to be found as far north as Yorkshire, beyond 
which it becomes rare, while in Ireland it is only an 
