230 PTCID-E. 



strong and straight, two inches and a quarter in length, ten 

 lines broad, and seven lines thick at the base ; the lower 

 mandible by far the lesser in size : on the upper mandible 

 the ridges are particularly sharp and abrupt, like those on the 

 upper surface of rushes. The beak is of a grey horn colour, 

 yellowish towards the corners of the - mouth ; the nostrils are 

 large and oval shaped, they are placed in the grooves of the 

 ridge which runs from opposite the eyes towards the tip of 

 the beak, and not far from the base ; they are covered with 

 strong bristles : the under mandible and chin are also covered 

 with strong projecting bristles. 



The tongue of this species, although not so long as that of 

 the green woodpecker, can be projected three inches and a 

 quarter beyond the tip of the beak, when in the act of tak- 

 ing food, which it secures by means of its horny point armed 

 with sharp barbs ; the colour of the tongue, as well as that 

 of the inside of the beak and swallow, is flesh-red. The 

 iris is sulphur-yellow, the black pupil slightly extended 

 towards the corners of the mouth beyond its otherwise per- 

 fect circle. In young birds the iris is grey. The slate- 

 coloured legs are strong and largely scaled, and armed with 

 sharp and arched black claws. 



The general feathering of the Black Woodpecker is soft 

 and loose, closest on the rump, but about the neck almost 

 unconnected and very thin. 



The adult male has the upper part of the head, from the 

 bristles on the nostrils to the back and nape of the neck, of a 

 splendid scarlet-red : the rest of the head, particularly about 

 the eyes, mouth and chin deep jet-black ; the rest of the feather- 

 ing is black, but the tips of the quill-feathers are rather rusty. 



The female has only the red on the back of the head, and 

 is much less in size. 



The egg figured 1 38 is that of the Black W oodpecker. 



