340 THE WOODPECKERS 



the woodpeckers which, being correlated with their peculiar habits, 

 require mention. The first of these concerns the density of the 

 cranial bones necessary to resist the shocks of blows dealt by the 

 beak ; the second concerns the " pygostyle," the terminal bone of the tail, 

 which, to afford a stronger attachment for the stiff tail feathers which 

 at times have to support the weight of the body, is enlarged to form a 

 large disc. A similar disc, be it noted, is developed in the pygostyle 

 of the peregrine falcon, and this because, in like manner, the tail is 

 called upon to resist severe strains, albeit of a different kind. The 

 shoulder-girdle and sternum also present features demanding com- 

 ment, since the scapula terminates in a peculiar hook-shaped process, 

 as yet unexplained, but probably concerned with the muscular strains 

 incidental to the bird's mode of life, and, in particular, to wood-hewing : 

 while as touching the keel of the sternum, it is commonly supposed 

 and the so-called " popular " books on ornithology are largely respon- 

 sible for the myth, that the woodpecker has no " keel " to the breast- 

 bone, a dispensation of Providence to enable the bird to cling 

 sufficiently close to the tree to prevent being overbalanced ! 



From the study of structure we may now profitably turn to some 

 interesting facts in regard to coloration. In the first place, we would 

 draw attention to the frequency of more or less extensive patches of 

 red in the plumage of woodpeckers, and our British species are no 

 exception to the rule. In the green-woodpecker alone is this resplen- 

 dent colour worn by both sexes, and at all ages, in the form of a patch 

 on the crown, though in young birds it is but feebly developed. In 

 the lesser spotted species the adult male has a red crown patch, his 

 mate lacks this ornament, but the young of both sexes resemble the 

 male, save that in the young female the red area is smaller, being 

 restricted to the fore part of the crown, and is finally lost. In the 

 greater spotted species the young have red crowns in both sexes, but 

 in the adult female the red is lost, and in the adult male it is trans- 

 ferred to the nape. The loss of red in the adult females is curious, 

 and affords food for reflection. As a rule we regard ornamental 



