BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE GREEN WOODPECKER. 



WOODSPITE, HIGH-HOE, HKW-HOLK, OR PICK-A-TREE.* 



(Pirns viridis, Linn. Pic rvvV, Temm.) 



THIS is the second in size of the British kinds, 

 being thirteen inches in length. The bill is two 

 inches long, triangular, and of a dark horn colour: 

 the tongue towards the tip is furnished with 

 numerous fibres, projecting transversely, of the 

 size of minute hairs ; the outer circle of the eye is 

 white, surrounding another of red; top of the 

 head bright crimson, which extends down the 



* Wallis, in his History of Northumberland, observes that it is 

 called by the common people Pick-a-Tree, also Rain Fowl, from its 

 being more loud and noisy before rain. The Romans called them 

 Pluvioe aves for the same reason. 



