378 INSESSORES. PICUS. WOODPECKER 



been mistaken for the Picus Medius, a distinct species, and 

 not found in England. 



PLATE 38. Fig. 2. A male of the natural size. 

 General Bill bluish-black, about one inch and a quarter long. 

 Irides purplish-red. Forehead greyish-white. Crown 

 of the head black. Occiput arterial blood-red. Cheeks 

 and ear-coverts white. From each corner of the lower 

 mandible a streak of black passes towards the nape of 

 the neck, another band of black proceeds from the 

 middle of this, and passes down the side of the neck ; 

 the two opposite ones almost meet upon the upper part 

 of the breast. On each side of the back part of the 

 neck is a white patch. Back and lesser coverts velvet- 

 black. Scapulars, and part of the adjoining wing- 

 coverts, white. Throat, breast and belly white. Quills 

 black, each web being spotted with white. Tail stiff, 

 cuneated, the four middle feathers black, the rest with 

 more or less white, and spotted near the tip with black. 

 Vent and under tail- coverts aurora-red. Tarsi and toes 

 blackish-grey. Claws much hooked, and black. 

 The female bird is without the red occipital band, and in 

 other respects similar to the male. 





