THR r.F.33ER SPOTTED WOODPECKEH. 



WOODPECKERS. 



The birds in this group in general have the beak reciart- 

 gular, in a few instances very slightly hooked, never thick nor 

 very lonq-. 



THE GREEN WOODPECKER. 



Picus viridis, Linn^ei-s ; Le Pic vert, Buffon ; Der Griinspecht, Bechstein. 



The length of this bird is twelve inches and a half, but four 

 and a half of tliesc are included in the tail, almost half of which 

 is covered by the folded wings. The beak, an inch and a half 

 in length, is triangular, very pomted, and of a dark grey ; the 

 h-is is grey ; the tongue is five inches long, and furnished, like 

 that of the other woodpeckers, with a horny tip, and strong 

 hairs on each side, so as to be useful in catchhig and piercing 

 insects. The top of the head to the nape of the neck is of a 

 brilliant crimson; a black streak, which in old birds is often 

 tinged witl> red. di.scends on each side of the neck ; the upper 

 part of the body is of a beautiful olive gi'een, the under part of 

 a dusky greenish white : some transverse lines may be seen on 

 the belly, which become more distinct on the sides. 



In the female the colours are paler, and there is less red on 

 tlie head, wliich, when it is young, is only gi-ey. 



Habitation. — When wild, the green woodpecker, during summer, 

 frequents woods and orchards which arc near these, but when the air h»- 



