THE GREEIV WOODPECKER. 



Picus viridis. 



ARGEST of the tribe, this bird 

 is also extremely handsome, few 

 British birds being able to rival 

 the gorgeous colour of its plu- 

 mage. Although green is the 

 prevailing tint, yet that colour 

 shades off to yellow towards the 

 upper part of the tail. Upon the 

 top of the head is a brilliant 

 crimson, the feathers being black, 

 tipped with red, forming a slight 

 pencilling. These feathers some- 

 times assume the form of a partial 

 crest. From the base of the beak 

 to the back of the eye is black, 

 and down each side of the throat, 

 forming a kind of moustache, 

 runs a crimson streak, bordered 

 with black. The outer wing- 

 feathers are barred with greyish- 

 black and squares of buff. The 

 hen may be distinguished from 

 the male by the fact that she 

 does not possess the crimson 



