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A BOOK OF BIRDS 



There have been many recorded instances of the occurrence in 

 Great Britain of the Great Black Woodpecker (Plate XXIII. fig. 8), 

 but in every case investigation has shown that some mistake has 

 been made. It is a relatively enormous and very handsome bird, and 

 has more than once been imported into this country for the purpose 

 of acclimatising it, but without success. 



America is peculiarly rich in Woodpeckers, a large proportion 

 of the three hundred and odd known species occurring either in the 

 northern or southern portions of this great continent. Furthermore, 

 the American species display a marvellous diversity of plumage. 

 Woodpeckers, however, occur all over the world, except the Australian 

 region, Madagascar, and Egypt. 



The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is an American species, measuring 

 some 20 inches in length. It is met with in the Gulf States and 

 Lower Mississippi Valley (Plate XXIII. fig. 3). 



The Red-headed Woodpecker (Plate XXIII. fig. 5) is another 

 American species common in Arizona. Handsome though it is, it 

 is surpassed, perhaps, by the Golden Woodpeckers of the genus 

 Colaptes. 



Though in its coloration unlike the typical Woodpeckers, the 

 Wryneck, or '' Cuckoos-mate " (Plate XXIII. fig. 6), nevertheless, 

 is of the Woodpecker tribe. In the soft mottled-grey and brown 



Fig. 15.— Foot and tail of Woodpecker, and tail of Wryneck. Note the 

 marked difference in the shape of the two tails, and the zygodactyle foot. 



colours of its plumage this bird resembles rather the Nightjars. The 

 tail-feathers, too, as may be seen in the annexed figure, are not stiff 



