THE BTltDS OF SINGAPORE 1SLAN*D 
The l>eak is mostly slaty; the irides red and feet greenish. 
Total length about lo inches; wing 5 inches. 
Distribution: —This bird is found in Tenasserim, the 
Malay Peninsula, Borneo and Sumatra. In the Malay Penin- 
sula it is fairly common. 
Status in Singapore: — One of the common woodUnd 
woodpeckers and sometimes seen in the Botanic Gardens. 
THE COMMON GOLDEN-BACKED WOODPECEEE 
Dhi opium ja%fatiettse javanense (Ljun^) 
' Description: — The male is a most handsome bird with the 
top of the head and the rump bright red. The back and wing's 
arc golden-green, the wing-qnills and tail black. The entire 
undcrparts are boldly spotted with black and white. 
The female is like the male except that she has the red 
colour of the head replaced by a black cap spotted with wliite. 
The bill is almost black and the legs dull green. 
Length about 11 inches, wing 5* inches. 
Dhinhtition \ — From India this common woodpecker 
ranges east through Siam, etc. and is found in Bunna, the 
M&lay Peninsula, Sumatra. Java and Borneo. In the Penin- 
sula it is a common bird near the coasts and is particularly 
fond of coconut ground. 
Status in S'ntgaporc i—XN'Ah the possible exception of the 
tiny aurlius to be mentioned below, this pretty species seems 
to be the common woodpecker of Singapore. At the same 
time we have never observed it near the town or in the 
Botanic Gardens; h\^\ in the niral districts, the patches of 
junjifle and the mangrove especially, it is quite common. On 
the small islands near Singapore it is particularly numerous. 
Other habits'.— Mv. H, Robinson writes: "This species 
is eminently a denizen of cultivated lands, and I have hardly 
ever seen it outside the groves of coconut and Penang palms 
which surround every Malay village. It feeds mainly on ants^ 
principally the tailor-ant (Oecophyltu sniaragdstia), but I have 
observed it attack and swallow a small flying lizard (Dracc 
volaris)- 
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