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Gurney, jun., from Shetland, where it was obtained during the large migrations which have twice 

 visited the island, and of which mention is made below. We must state that we are at present unable 

 to identify this specimen, the chief characteristics of which are the grey on the nape and wing-coverts, 

 and the stripes on the breast — characters which seem to separate it from Picus major. It is too large 

 for P. rnedius, and cannot be P. leuconotus, which, so far as we are able to discover, has the lower back 

 white at all ages. In appending a full description of Mr. Gurney's specimen, we beg leave to ask the 

 assistance of all our ornithological friends in identifying the species to which it belongs. 



Young Male shot at Halligarth, Shetland, in September 1861, by Dr. Saxby. Forehead buff; crown of the 

 head crimson, bordered with greyish black above each eye ; nape clear grey ; orbital region and ear- 

 coverts, as well as the sides of the neck, dull white ; malar streak greyish black, extending right down 

 the sides of the neck and joined to the crown by a narrow line of black just behind the ear-coverts ; 

 back blackish, becoming much more grey on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; scapulars white, irre- 

 gularly barred with greyish black ; wing-coverts clear grey, the centres of the feathers blackish, the 

 shafts being especially plainly marked, the innermost greater coverts white much varied with black, 

 especially at the base of the feathers ; quills blackish, becoming browner towards the tip of the feather, 

 the white markings on the outer web forming three distinct white bars across the wing, but more 

 irregular on the primaries, where no distinct bands are to be seen, the extremities of the primaries 

 tipped with white ; tail blackish, the three outermost feathers white towards the tip, this colour being 

 least developed on the third rectrix, more on the second and on the outermost, occupying more than 

 the apical half of the feather, all these white portions irregularly crossed with blackish bars ; under 

 surface of the body dirty white, with very distinct streaks of black down the sides of the body ; abdomen 

 and vent pale vermilion ; the pectoral half-collar of black very feebly developed ; under wing-coverts 

 nearly entirely white, some of the lower ones barred with blackish. Total length 9" 7 inches, culmen 

 T05, wing 5 - 6, tail 3 - 9, tarsus 095. 



The present species and its allies are spread over the entire Palsearctic Region; but whether all 

 the birds which have been differentiated are really good species, and if so what are their 

 respective ranges, will be a matter for future observers to decide, and it will be impossible 

 rightly to settle these questions without a full series of old and young birds, correctly identified, 

 from all the localities where Pied Woodpeckers have ever been found. Great differences of 

 opinion also exist among systematists as to the number of species to be admitted ; but we believe 

 that the remarks made by Professor Sundevall in his able treatise on the Woodpeckers will be 

 found to be in the main correct, though some of his conclusions are questioned by Mr. G. R. 

 Gray in his recent ' Hand-list.' There seems, however, to be little doubt that true Picus major 

 extends all over Europe and across Siberia to Japan ; for we could not see any difference in spe- 

 cimens collected in the latter island by Mr. Whitely, when compared with European birds. We 

 have had before us a very large series of birds from all parts of Europe, and have found little or 

 no variation in examples from different localities, not forgetting, however, Mr. Gurney's Shetland 

 skin, which agrees most nearly with a Danish specimen sent us by Mr. Benzon. The latter 

 gentleman also informs us that eggs of P. major taken in Denmark run smaller than those pro- 

 cured from Southern Europe ; so that it is possible that a full series of specimens may prove the 

 existence of another Pied Woodpecker in Northern Europe. Messrs. Elwes and Buckley likewise 

 publish the following note of Canon Tristram's on a series of Turkish birds sent home by 

 Mr. Robson, to the effect that the Woodpecker of Constantinople is " an intermediate form 



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