jam/ica woodpecker. 
means unapprlzed, that the Woodpeckers in i 
general have ten tail feathers ; but, on view of 
this bird, found it to contain only eight, though ^ 
the tail seemed to him perfe6l. He does not ^ 
insist that it was so; and this diffident expres-' j 
sion is unfairly converted into a positive asser- 1 
tion against him, by BufFon, who is not al- ! 
ways very precise in his distindlions. \ 
** The bill," continues Edwards, Is straight, ! 
pretty sharp-pointed, and black. It can ex- ; 
tend the tongue to a good length ; which is 
pointed and horny at the end, fit to strike in- 
scS.s. The fore part of the head, all round , 
the base of the bill, and beyond the eyes, is of j 
a yellowish white. The hinder part of the [ 
head and neck is of a fine red or scarlet co- 
lour. Tlje throat, and breast, are of a dirtv 
olive colour; which, gradually, becomes red- 
dish on the belly, with transverse dusky lines ; 
on the lower belly and thighs. The covert- | 
feathers under the tail are marked with dusky '\ 
and whitish transverse broken lines. The 
back, upper side of the wings, rump, and tail, 
irc black ; with narrow transverse lioht-brown ' 
ines on the back, whiter on the wings, and ' 
broarder, \ 
