DKYOCOPUS MAETIUS. 



(GREAT BLACK WOODPECKER.) 



Picus martins, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 173 (1766). 



Dryocopus martius, Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 977. 



Dendrocopus martius, Brehm, Isis, 1828, p. 1274. 



Carbonarius martius, Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 131 (1829). 



Dendrocopus pinetorum, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 185, t. 13. fig. 3 (1831). 



Dendrocopus martius, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 185 (1831). 



Dryotomus martius, Sw. Faun. Bor.-Am. Aves, p. 301 (1831). 



Dryopicos martius, Malh. Mem. Acad. Nation. Metz, 1849, p. 320. 



Dryopicus martius, Malh. Monogr. Picid. i. p. 31, t. 10. figs. 5, 6, 7 (1861). 



Great Black Woodpecker, English ; Pic noir, French ; Schwarzspecht, German ; de zwarte 

 Specht, Dutch ; Spilkrdka, or Svart-Hackspett, Swedish ; Svartspet, Norwegian ; Sortspet, 

 Danish ; Dyatell Jelna, Russian ; Picchio nero, Italian. 



<J nitide ater : remigibus brunnescentibus : capite summo cristato late coccineo : rostro lactescente, camileo 

 tincto, maxilla ad apicem nigricante : pedibus saturate plumbeis : iride sulphurea. 



$ mari similis, sed pileo nigro, macula magna occipitali coccinea. 



Male. General colour glossy black, slightly tinged with brown on the fore part of the under surface ; quills 

 and tail blackish brown ; crown of the head crimson, narrowing into an occipital crest on the nape ; bill 

 bluish white, blackish towards the point; feet dark grey; iris light yellow. Total length 18 inches, 

 culm. 2 - 6, wing 90, tail 7*0, tarsus 1*3. 



Female. Similar to the male, but somewhat duller in plumage, and inclining to brown. Always to be 

 distinguished by the crimson on the head being confined to a patch on the occiput, and not extending 

 on to the forehead. Total length 18 inches, culm. 2*3, wing 9'2, tail 7'2, tarsus T3. 



The young birds are similar to the adults, excepting that the bill is not so strong, the black not so pure, 

 and the red on the crown of the male not so largely developed, nor so bright as in the old birds 

 (von Wright). 



The present species is highly characteristic of the Palaearctic Region, and extends right across its 

 northern portion, from Scandinavia to Japan. Towards the south of Europe it becomes scarcer, 

 but is met with in most of the large forests. Its supposed occurrence in England rests on the 

 most unsatisfactory basis, as will be seen from an analysis of the evidence given in detail by 

 Mr. Gurney below ; we ourselves do not believe in the authenticity of one of the instances. 



Degland and Gerbe give scarcely any information about the distribution of the bird in 

 France. All they say is that it is " found in the mountainous parts of Switzerland, France, and 

 Sicily, accidentally in Liguria." 



As regards its occurrence in Southern France, Jaubert and Barthelemy de la Pommeraye 



T 



