45 8 CORACIIFORMES 



CHAP. 



or under parts. From the males the females and young in first 

 plumage may be distinguished by their duller coloration ; but in 

 the intermediate stages of growth the latter exhibit a considerable 

 amount of red. Many species have fine crests. 



According to Hargitt ^ the number of genera is fifty, including 

 three hundred and eighty- five fairly defined species ; though both 

 genera and species depend chiefly on colour. He mentions Colcqotes 

 as an instance of the possible formation of races by hybridization 

 or climatic influences, and Gecinus as an example of diversely 

 coloured forms, perhaps originating from a common ancestor. 

 Tlie well-known colour-phases of Dendrocopus major and of the 

 genus lyngipicus may be mentioned in this connexion ; the species 

 becoming larger and whiter as they range eastwards through 

 Central Asia to Japan, and the former also shewing a tendency 

 to a crimson tint on the breast as it nears Africa southwards. 



Woodpeckers are, with a few exceptions, solitary woodland 

 birds of a particularly shy and retiring nature, and therefore 

 somewhat difficult of observation. When seeking food they 

 usually ascend a tree in spiral fashion assisted by their tail and 

 claws, and carefully examine every chink or cranny in the bark ; 

 on reaching the higher limbs they betake themselves at once to 

 fresh hunting-grounds, often alighting at the very base of a trunk, 

 but equally often flying straight to some promising half-decayed 

 branch. In some cases, however, high flights are essayed. The species 

 of Colaptcs and Geocolaptes feed upon the ground; many forms, such 

 as Picus martius, Gecinus viridis, and Melanerpes formicivorus, prey 

 largely upon ants and take great pains to make a thorough clearance 

 of the nest; the last-named stores up acorns; while Siyhyrapicus 

 varius and its congeners suck the sap of trees and also hawk for flies : 

 others again devour a large quantity of fruits, seeds, and perhaps 

 even Indian corn. Omitting, however, the sap-sucking propensities 

 of the American species, the harm done is outweighed by the good. 



In spring the laughing, ringing, or other cries may be heard 

 in most wooded districts ; the sounds being somewhat harsli, 

 and consisting of more or less continuous notes according to the 

 species, while the duration is commonly about thirty seconds. 

 The curious " drumming " noise produced in particular by the 

 Spotted and Black Woodpeckers is also chiefly heard early in the 

 year, though it ceases not with the courting, but when the young 



1 Cat. Birds Brit. Mies, xviii, 1890. 



