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. 



FIG. 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 



