274 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE BLACK WOODPECKER. 



(Pic us martins, Linn. Pic /ioir, Temm. 



THIS scarce bird is the largest of the British 

 Woodpeckers, being about seventeen inches in 

 length; bill nearly two and a half, of a horn 

 colour, and pale yellow on the sides; irides also 

 pale yellow ; the crown of the head is crimson, and 

 the feathers elongated to the nape; the quills are 

 brown, and all the rest of the plumage dull black; 

 the legs are lead grey, having the fore part covered 

 with feathers half their length. 



