PICUS. 



353 



thologists cannot agree as to which species would have been regarded by 

 Linnaeus as typical. Of the eighteen species with which he was acquainted, 

 seven belong to the black-and-white group. If we add to these the Black 

 Woodpecker and its three allies, which seem to me to be generically 

 inseparable, there can be no possible doubt that Linnaeus must have 

 considered this group of eleven species the typical one, the "other eight 

 species being obviously aberrant members of the family. In the absence 

 of any rule to guide me, I accept P. major as the type, on the ground that 

 it has been so regarded by the majority of ornithologists. 



The distinguishing characteristic of the Woodpeckers belonging to this 

 genus is the coloration of their plumage, which in typical examples is pied 

 black and white, with more or less scarlet or, in rare instances, yellow on 

 the head of the male ; but in some aberrant species the white disappears 

 altogether, leaving the colours black and crimson. 



The limits of this genus have not yet been accurately determined, and 

 it is impossible to say how many species it contains. It is principally 

 confined to the Palaearctic and Nearctic Regions, extending into the 

 northern portions of the tropics. 



The birds in this genus frequent large woods, groves, parks, and orchards, 

 where they climb about the trees, digging into the bark and decaying 

 timber with their stout bills in search of food. Their flight is moderately 

 quick and very undulatory, but seldom long sustained. Their notes are 

 loud, harsh, and piercing. Their food is almost exclusively composed of 

 insects and larvae. They breed in holes of timber, which they generally 

 excavate themselves, making no nest, and lay white and highly polished 

 eggs. 



VOL. II. 



