24 



PICID^. MEROPID^. 



136. Greek Woodpecker. Gecinus viridis (Linnaeus). Resident 

 in England ; seldom, if ever, in Scotland ; very rai'ely in Ireland. 



General colour greenish. Iris white. 

 Male. Crown scarlet ; moustachial stripe red. 

 Female. Less red on crown ; moustachial stripe black. 

 Young. Head grey, tipped with scarlet ; breast barred with greyish 

 black. Length 13-14 mches. 



Subfamily lYNGIN^. Nostrils partly covered by a membrane. 

 137. Wryneck. lyim! torquilla, Linnajus. Spring to autumn. 



General colour greyish brown, vermieulated with blackish ; below 

 dull white ; throat and breast tinged with buff and crossed with blackish 

 bars. Tail soft and rounded ; with six blackish bars ; the outer feather 

 on each side so extremely short as to give tlie appearance of only ten 

 feathers. Length 7 inches. 



ALCEDINID^. 



Alcedo ispida, Linnseus. 



Resident, or partially 



138. Kingfisher. 

 migratory. 



Male. Above greenish blue ; middle of back, rump, and upper tail- 

 coverts cobalt- blue; throat and patch on each side of neck white ; lores 

 black ; rest below rich chestnut ; bill black. Length 7^ inches. 



Female. Lower mandible reddish at base. 



S. Europe, 

 Asia Minor, 

 N. Africa, 

 wintering in 

 S, Africa. 



CORACIID^. 



Coracias garrida, Linnaeus. 



Irregular visitor on 



139. Roller. 

 migration. 



Baelv, scapulars, and tertials cinnamon-brown ; inner web of end of 

 primaries blackish brown. Neck, throat, breast, and underparts bluish ; 

 rest green or purplish green. Length 13 inches. 



S.W. Europe, 

 N.W. Africa, 

 wintering in 

 S. Africa. 



MEROPIDm 



Merops apiaster, Linnaeus. 



Rare straggler on 



140. Bee-eater. 

 migration. 



Bill long, pointed, slightly curved downwards ; iris red. Forehead 

 white next bill, then a bluish tinge ; crown rich chestnut ; chin and 

 throat rich yellow, bordered below by a black line. Tail green, long ; 

 two centre feathers an inch longer than others. Length 10-11 inches. 



Note. — Tlie Blue-tailed Bee-eater, 31 crops philippinus, has been once 

 recorded, but importation may be suspected. Tail hive. Rather larger 

 than last. 



