Picus. 
BIRDS. SCANSORES. 
91 
to Barrington, it is stated, that “ The Bev. Mr Stafford was walking in 
Glossopdale, in the Peak of Derbyshire, and saw a cuckoo rise from its nest, 
which was on the stump of a tree, that had been some time felled, so as much 
to resemble the colour of the bird. In this nest Avere two young cuckoos, 
one of which he fastened to the ground, by means of a peg and line, and 
very frequently, for many days, beheld the old cuckoo feed there her young 
ones.” — Phil. Trans. 1772, 299. The egg, which varies in colour and mark- 
ings, is deposited in the nest of the dupe dame, after she has laid one or two 
eggs. "Wlien the young cuckoo is hatched, it becomes restless, and ceases 
not until it has ejected from the nest the eggs or young of its foster-parent. 
It is fed by the dupe with maternal care, until able to provide for itself. 
(See Jenner, Phil. Trans. 1788, p. 219.) When in a young state, the irides 
are liver-brown, the plumage brown with dark spots ; the feathers on the 
forehead margined with white ; beneath, yeUowish-white, with transverse 
black bars. In this state, or before acquiring the plumage of maturity, it 
has been termed Cuculushepaticus. — The food of the cuckoo consists of insects, 
especially caterpillars, both smooth and hairy. It arrives in April. The old 
ones depart in the beginning of July, and the young, hatched at or before 
that period, seem to leave us in succession. 
Gen. LVI. PICUS. Woodpecker. — Bill long, straight, 
angular and compressed; nostrils covered by deflected 
bristles ; the first quill short ; the tail-feathers stiff and 
pointed. 
122. P. viridis. Green Woodpecker.— Plumage, above, 
green ; beneath, grey ; the crown red. 
Will. Orn. 93. Sibb. Scot. 15. Linn. Syst. i. 175. Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 
240. Temm. Orn. i. 391. — llain-fowl, High-hoo, HeAV-hole, AavI- 
bird, Yappingall, Yaffer, Popinjay ; W, Cnocell y coed, Delor y drew ; 
G, Lasair choille — In wooded districts. 
Length 13|, breadth 21| inches; weight 7 ounces. Bill black; irides 
grey ; feet greenish. Feathers at the base of the bill, and around the eyes 
black. Lower part of the back and rump gamboge-yellow. Quills 19, barred 
with dusky black and yellowish-grey. Tail-feathers 10, with green and 
brown bars. Female.^ Avith less red on the head and black round the eyes, 
and the mustaches (which in the male are red) are black. — Nest in the holes 
of trees. Eggs 5, bluish-white. Young with little red on the head, the 
plumage inclining to grey, with spots of that colour on the back. The mu- 
staches are spotted with black and white. 
123. P. major. Greater spotted Woodpecker. — Plumage, 
above, black ; scapulars, and beneath, white. 
Will. Orn. 94. Linn. Syst. i. 176. Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 243. Temm. 
Orn. i. 395. — WhitAvall ; IF, Delor fraith. — In wooded districts. 
Length 9^, breadth 12 inches; weight 3 ounces. Bill black; irides red; 
feet dark grey. Front grey, crown black, the nape crimson. Cheeks and 
ear-covers white. A black stripe from the gape to the nape, Avith a branch 
descending on the neck. A white patch on each side of the hind neck. Quills 
20, black, Avith white spots. Tail-feathers 10, the four middle ones black, the 
rest white Avith black spots. Vent crimson. The /mafe Avants the red on 
the nape. — Nest, a hole in a decayed tree. Eggs 5, bluish-white. The young 
have the front grey, the crown red, and the nape black ; the plumage above 
with a broAvnish tinge, and beneath with black dots. In this state it is the 
