80 MARCH 



noted, even at the peril of the reader's patience, for 

 I own to a special weakness for woodpeckers. 



The affinity of birds and reptiles in the scheme of 

 animated Nature has been recognised long ago. The 

 green woodpecker recalls the reptile kingdom in an- 

 other respect besides its creeping habit, its extensile, 

 viscid tongue, and certain anatomical peculiarities in 

 the bones of the head. Its young are hatched as 

 naked as young lizards, instead of being protected 

 with down, like nearly all other nestlings. Perhaps, 

 however, seeing that the nest is always in the heart 

 of a tree, down has been dispensed with as a super- 

 fluity, unnecessary to young things so well pro- 

 tected against cold draughts. 



We have two other native species of woodpecker 

 the Great and the Lesser Spotted not less re- 

 markable than the yaffle for their gay coats ; but 

 they are less likely to attract attention, for, unlike 

 their green cousin, they do not frequent anthills, 

 they are not so talkative, and they generally move 

 among the higher branches of the forest. Black, 

 barred with white, with sparks and streaks of scar- 

 let, is the livery of the males of both Picus (Dendro- 

 copus) major and minor. The female, also, is started 

 in life with a smart cap of red feathers ; but, strange 



