52 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST 



The Knysna Woodpecker {Gampothera notata) has the top 

 of the head crimson, back olive-green ; below pale yellow 

 thickly spotted with black. Length, 8^ inches. This bird 

 seems to be confined to the Cape and Natal. 



The Cardinal Woodpecker {Dendropicus cardinalis) is the 

 commonest and most widely distributed of the South African 

 Woodpeckers. Hinder portion of crown crimson ; back 

 olive-brown barred with white ; below greyish streaked on 

 the breast and barred on the flanks with black. We have 

 collected specimens at Port Alfred, Grahamstown and 

 Uitenhage, in the Cape Colony, Brandfort and Modder Eiver 

 in the Orange Free State, Irene, Modderfontein, near 

 Johannesburg, and the Aapies Eiver (Waterval North) in 

 the Transvaal. Mr. Harry Neethling records it from Parys, 

 Orange Free State. 



It is a tamer bird than most of the other species, and we 

 have frequently watched one, at a distance of only a few 

 yards, creeping up tree trunks with great celerity, indus- 

 triously searching for insects. Length, 6 inches. 



The Olive Woodpecker {Mesopicus griseocepJialus) is fairly 

 common in the Eastern Province of the Cape, its habits not 

 differing materially from those of the preceding species. 



It is of a plain golden-olive above, top of the head, 

 rump and upper tail-coverts red, throat slatey. Length, 

 8| inches. 



The South African Wryneck {lynx ruficollis) is of a general 

 speckled brown colour ; chin, throat and upper breast 

 chestnut. 



This bird is not common, and was formerly popularly 

 supposed to be a migrant, but we have procured specimens 

 during winter and summer. 



