470 

 PICARI^E. 



PICID^E. 



PICIDJK. 



DENDROCOPUS MAJOR (Linnaeus.)* 

 GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 



Picus major. 



DENDROCOPITS, K. L. JToc/tf. Beak about as long as the bead, hard, straight, 

 pyramidal ; upper mandible with a ridge on each side, running obliquely forwards 

 from the nostril to a shallow groove, parallel to and near the tomia which are 

 angular and inflected ; lower mandible equal to the upper, and both ending 

 abruptly, the gonys much nearer the base than the tip. Nostrils basal, oval, 

 covered with hair-like feathers directed forwards. Tongue capable of protrusion, 

 beset at the tip with horny barbs. "Wings moderate ; the first primary very 

 short, the fourth longest. Tail of twelve graduated rectrices, the outer pair very 

 short and overlying the next, which with the rest are pointed and have stiff 

 decurved shafts, with hard webs. Tarsi strong, slightly feathered in front above ; 

 toes two before and two behind, the fourth which is turned backwards much 

 longer than the third ; claws, strongly hooked, grooved and very sharp. 



THJS species, though generally less common than the last, is 

 in some places not rare ; but hardly anywhere can it be called 



* Picus major, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 176 (1766). 



t Dcrtdrocopos (errore) Krch, Saugthiere und ^ 7 6gel Baierns, p. 72 (1816). 



