BRITISH BIRDS. 1 03 



138. Geeinus viridis (Linn.). GREEN WOODPECKER. 



Hab. Western Palasarctic region, north to South 

 Scandinavia, south to Mediterranean and Pyrenees. 



Male : top of head and a moustache-like streak from 

 gape crimson, the sides of head being black ; mantle 

 dull light green ; rump yellow ; primaries dusky, barred 

 exteriorly with buffish white ; below light greyish-green ; 

 bill blackish ; iris ash-white ; feet greyish. Length 

 about 12*00. Female : red of cap less extensive and that 

 of moustache absent. 



Common and resident in most parts of England and 

 Wales, but has not occurred half-a-dozen times in 

 Scotland, while it had only been taken twice in Ireland 

 previously to October, 1889, when an extensive immi- 

 gration occurred. Nesting burrow is excavated in trunks 

 or larger limbs of trees at variable heights ; entrance 

 about 2*50 in diameter and interior cavity rather deep. 

 Eggs: 5 to 7 ; shell glossy; creamy white ; size 1*30 by 

 90. Food : chiefly insects taken upon tree trunks, but 

 in both summer and winter it may be seen at work 

 upon the ant-hills on the ground. 



Sub-family, Syng'inae. 



GENUS LXVI. IYNX, Linnaeus (1766). 

 Bill moderate, straight, somewhat conical, terminal 

 half diminishing rapidly, tip sharply pointed ; tongue 

 as in GecinuSj but the tip without barbs. Tail of ten 

 feathers, tips webbed beyond shaft, and not stiff. Feet 

 as in Gecinus. Feathers of crown forming a semi- 

 erectile crest. 



139. lynx torquilla, Linn. WRYNECK. 

 Hab. Palsearctic region, excepting extreme north. In 

 winter southward to Africa, India and China. 



