COMMON THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. 185 



tarsus short, compressed, feathered anteriorly more than one-third 

 down, scutellate in the rest of its extent, as well as behind on the in- 

 ner side ; toes three, the first wanting ; the fourth or outer reversed toe 

 considerably longer than the third, which is united to the inner at the 

 base ; all scutellate above. Claws large, much curved, compressed, la- 

 terally grooved, very acute. 



Plmnage very soft, full, blended. A large tuft of reversed stiffish 

 feathers on each side of the base of the upper mandible, concealing the 

 nostrils ; the feathers in the angle of the lower mandible also stiffish 

 and directed forwards. Wings rather long ; the first quill very small, 

 being only eleven-twelfths long, the second five-twelfths shorter than 

 the third, which is one-twelfth shorter than the fourth, this being the 

 longest, but scarcely exceeding the fifth ; secondaries broad and rounded. 

 Tail of moderate length, cuneate, of twelve feathers, of which the la- 

 teral, which are rounded and unworn, are only one inch long, the next, 

 also unworn, are one inch and one-twelfth shorter than the middle. 



Bill bluish-grey, dusky toward the end. Feet bluish-grey, the scu- 

 tella and claws black. The general colour of the upper parts is deep 

 glossy black, the head with blue reflections, the back and wings tinged 

 with brown. The tufts over the nostrils are dull yellow ; the anterior 

 part of the head pale yellow spotted with white ; a band of white, with 

 small dusky lines, passes from the angle of the mouth to the occiput ; 

 the back is transversely banded with white ; the quills are brownish- 

 black, spotted and tipped with white, the four longest primaries with 

 seven spots on the outer, and five on the inner web, on most of the se- 

 condaries five on each web. The four middle tail-feathers are black, 

 the next black, largely tipped with white, the rest white, but except 

 the outer small feathers, with a black band at the base. The lower 

 parts are white, excepting the sides, and lower wing-coverts, which are 

 banded with black. 



Length to end of tail 9 inches ; bill along the ridge 1, along the 

 edge of lower mandible l/g ; wing from flexure 4j^^ ; tail 3^ ; tarsus |^ ; 

 second toe 1*^, its claw i^ ; third toe y'j, its claw ^^ ; fourth toe ||, its 

 claw 1%. 



Adult Female. Plate CCCCXVII. Fig. 4. 



The Female, which is somewhat smaller, differs from the male in 

 wanting the yellow patch on the head, the whole of that part being 

 black, with small white spots. 



