Woovrrckern. ZYGODACTYLI. PICUS. 107 
itself; and which excavation has in general two openings, to 
facilitate the inhabitants’ escape in case of sudden danger. 
The young, on quitting the nest, and prior to the first moult, 
have the crown of the head red, and the occipital band black, 
in which state it has, by some writers, been mistaken for 
the Picus Medius, a distinct species, and not found in Eng- 
land. 
Prate 38. Fig. 2. A male of the natural size. 
Bill bluish-black, about one inch and a quarter long. General 
Irides purplish-red. Forehead greyish-white. Crown al 
of the head black. Occiput arterial blood-red. Cheeks 
and ear-coverts white. From each corner of the lower 
mandible a streak of black passes towards the nape of 
the neck, another band of black proceeds from the 
middle of this, and passes down the side of the neck ; 
the two opposite ones almost meet upon the upper part 
of the breast. On each side of the back part of the 
neck is a white patch. Back and lesser coverts velvet- 
black. Scapulars, and part of the adjoming wing-co- 
verts white. Throat, breast and belly white. Quills 
black, each web being spotted with white. ‘ail stiff, 
cuneated, the four middle feathers black, the rest with 
more or less white, and spotted near the tip with black. 
Vent and under tail coverts aurora-red. Tarsi and toes 
blackish-grey. Claws much hooked, and black. 
The female bird is without the red occipital band, and in 
other respects similar to the male. 
Lesser-spotted W oodpecker.—Picus minor, Linn. 
PLATE 38. Fig. 3. 
Picus minor, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 176. 19.—Faun. Suec. No. 102.—Gmel. Syst. 
1. p. 493. sp. 19.—Zath. Ind. Ornith. v. 1. p. 229. sp. 15. 
Picus varius minor, Briss. 4. p. 41. 15. 
Picus varius tertius, Rati, Syn. p. 43. 6.—Will. p. 94. t. 21. 
Le Petit Epeiche, Buff Ois. v. 7. p. 62.—Id. Pl. Enl. 598. f. 1. and 2. 
