130 THE GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER 



THIS is a black, white, and fiery-red speckled bird, length 

 over nine inches. The black lores extend like a bridle to 

 the neck. Back and rump black. In the male the back 

 part of the riead is red, in the female black ; in both the 

 lower part a burning red. The sides of the underparts 

 dingy white ; on the shoulder a white spot ; on the flight 

 feathers white, cross flecks. Tail strong, the middle 

 feathers pointed and stiff, suitable for climbing. Beak 

 relatively short, but strong at the base, pointed like a 

 chisel. It bores its nesting hole in trees about half way 

 up, the entrance being round and only just large enough 

 for the bird to go in and out. It lays four eggs, 

 occasionally six, of a dazzling snow white, with delicate 

 shells. 



