Aut BRITISH BIRDS 
Bird. Length 12} in. Recognised by the bright green 
on the upper-parts, greyish-green under- 
parts and the rich crimson crown and nape. 
Toes two before and two behind. The male 
has a large black patch on the side of 
the head enclosing a patch of crimson. 
Rump yellow. Tail black with greenish 
bars. Outer wing quills chequered white. 
The female lacks the red in the black cheek 
patch. The young are distinguished by the 
barring on the rump and under-parts. 
Nest. Place: hole in a tree, almost always 
bored by the bird. Material: chips of wood. 
Eggs. Usually 5-7. Glossy white, some- 
times stained by the wood. Av. size, 1°24 
x ‘91 in, Laying begins April-May. One brood. 
84. Great spotted-woodpecker [Dryobates major anglicus 
(Hartert) ; Dendrocopus major (Linneeus)]. Subspecies confined 
to Great Britain. Found in woodland districts. 
Bird. Length10in. Recognised by the black upper-parts, 
the white patches on the cheek, sides of the neck and 
scapulars, and the red on the belly and under tail-coverts. 
Is about 23 in. shorter in length than the green-woodpecker. 
Toes two before and two behind. The male has a band of 
crimson on the nape which is lacking in the female. Wings 
black barred with white spots. Under-parts dull buff except for 
the red. Centre tail-feathers black, others barred dull whitish 
and black. The young have the crown of the head crimson. 
Nest. Place: hole in a tree bored by the bird. Material: 
chips of dead wood. 
iggs. Usually 5-6. Glossy white, sometimes creamy. Av. 
size, 1°03 x°76. Laying begins May. One brood. 
85. Lesser spotted-woodpecker [Dryobates minor com- 
minutus (Hartert): Dendrocopus minor (Linneus)|. More or 
less stationary in the woodlands of England and Wales. Ex- 
ceptional in Scotland and Ireland. 
Bird. Length 6in. More than a third shorter in length than 
the great spotted form, and has most of the back whitish barred 
black. Wings as No, 84. Toes two before andtwo behind. The 
male has the crown crimson, the female dull whitish. Both have 
white patchesonthecheeksandsides of neck. Centretail-feathers 
black, others barred black and white. Under-parts whitish, 
streaked black on the flanks. Young have more or less crimson 
on the crown, and buff under-parts with short brown streaks. 
Nest. As great spotted-woodpecker, but smaller. 
Eggs. Av.size,°73X°56in. Otherwise as great spotted form. 
