PILEATED WOODPECKER. 79 



late before, scaly on the sides ; two toes before and two behind, the inner 

 hind toe shortest ; claws strong, arched, very acute. 



Plumage compact, glossy. Feathers of the head elongated, loose, and 

 erectile. Wings large, the third and fourth quills longest. Tail long, 

 cuneate, of twelve tapering stiff feathers, worn to a point by being rubbed 

 against the bark of trees. 



Bill and feet deep blue. Iris yellow. The general colour of the 

 plumage is deep black, glossed with purplish-blue. The whole upper 

 part of the head of a shining deep carmine ; a broad band of black runs 

 backwards from the eye, and is continued, narrow to the forehead ; between 

 this band and the bright red of the upper part of the head is a narrow 

 line of white ; at the base of the bill commences, at first yellowish, a band 

 of white, which crosses the cheek, expands on the side of the neck, where 

 it is joined by the white of the throat, and terminates under the wing ; 

 there is also a broad band of red from the base of the lower mandible. 

 Under wing-coverts white, as are the proximal portions of the quills. 



Length 18 inches; extent of wings 28; bill along the back If, along 

 the edges 3. 



Adult Female. Plate CXI. Fig. 2. 



The female differs little in external appearance from the male. The 

 fore part and sides of the head over the eye are dusky, and the bright red 

 of the upper part of the head is confined to the vertex and occiput, while 

 the red band, from the base of the lower mandible, is substituted by one 

 of a brownish colour. In other respects it resembles the male. 



Young Males. Plate CXI. Fig. 3, 4. 



The young males fully fledged, differ little from the old males in the 

 tints and distribution of their colours ; but they are represented in the 

 plate for the purpose of shewing the original pointed form and greater 

 length of the bill. 



