Gold-backed Woodpecker. 

 (Brachypternus aurantius. ) 



XII. THE WOODPECKER. 



" Th? golden woodpecker laughs loud at nothing. 7 ' 



Hurdis. 



IT would appear that a propensity for irresponsible 

 and irrelevant hilarity is widely spread in the Woodpecker 

 family ; for the species alluded to by the worthy author of 

 the * ' Village Curate ' ' is the English Green Woodpecker 

 (Gecinus viridis) a bird which can hardly even by a 

 stretch of the poetical imagination be called golden, by the 

 way. Our own common Calcutta Woodpecker (Brachyp- 

 ternus aurantius) is just as unseasonably jovial. He is 

 j oiliest when on the wing ; if you watch after hearing his 

 ringing cackle, you will generally be rewarded by a sight 

 of his somewhat ungainly form, as, with head outstretched 

 F, BC 5 



