are enumerated in the usefid ‘ Hand-list o f Birds ’ of the late Mr. G. B. Gray, o f the British Museum. As
might naturally be supposed, much diversity o f form exists among the members o f so vast a body of birds,
each form being especially adapted to some given purpose o r locality, the boles and leafy foliage o f trees,
rocky parched plains and humid grassy meadows being alike resorted to by one or other o f them. They are
all zygodactyle in the form of their feet, although, in some cases, only a rudiment o f one o f the hind toes is
found to exist. So far as my knowledge extends, they one and all deposit their beautiful shining white eggs
in the boles o f tre e s ; but I think it probable that some few may occasionally place theirs in crevices o f
rocks. Their principal food consists o f insects and their larva?; the ground-frequenting species consume
ants and their eggs in great num bers; and fruits and berries are not rejected by others. The species
inhabiting Europe are about ten in number, four o f which are represented in the present wo rk ; and I here
subjoin notices of the occurrence o f two or three other accidental visitors from America.
Subfamily PICINjE.
Genus Picus.
Members o f this truly arboreal form are found both in the Old and iu the New .World. They feed almost
exclusively on insects and their larvae, but probably partake of spiders also, which they search for and extract
from the bark of trees.
204. Picus m a j o r ................................................................................................. Vol. III. PI. LXX.
G r ea t S po t t e d W o o d pe c k e r .
A resident species. Common in England, but more rarely met with in Scotland and Ireland.
205. Picus l e u c o n o t u s ........................................................................................................... . . Vol. III. PI. LXXI.
W h it e -ba ck ed W o o d p e c k e r .
An accidental visitor to the Hebrides.
206. Picu s m i n o r ........................................................................................................................Vol. III. PI. LXXII.
L e s s e r S po t t e d W o o d p e c k e r .
A resident species in England, extremely rare, if a t all to be found, in Scotland, and never occurs in
Ireland.
The late Mr. Briggs, o f Cookham, in Berkshire, who was a close observer of nature, and especially o f our
native birds, informed me just prior to his death that he had witnessed many curious actions and displays
performed by this species while flitting and hovering with outspread wings around the leafy branches and
crowns of high trees, apparently engaged in capturing small insects. I deem it necessary to mention this,
because we really know but little respecting the actions o f even our commonest Woodpecker.
207. Picus v i l l o s u s .
Hairy Woodpecker.
There is no doubt about this American species having been killed several times in Britain. Latham
mentions a pair from Halifax, in Yorkshire, in the collection o f the then Duchess of Portland ; and one was
killed in 1849 a t Whitby, in Yorkshire, as stated by Mr. Higgins in the ‘ Zoologist ’ for that year, p. 2496.
This latter specimen I have examined, and have no doubt o f its identity, nor of the authenticity of its
occurrence. I t is not figured, because it is purely American and only an accidental visitor.
208. Picus p u b e s c e n s .
Downy Woodpecker.
Mr. Harting mentions the occurrence o f a single example o f this bird at Bloxworth, near Blandford,
Dorsetshire, in December 1836, as reported by the Rev. O. P. Cambridge in the ‘ Zoologist ’ for 1859,
p. 6444.
Owing to this species being a native o f the New World, and its having been only once seen in England,
I have not given a figure o f it.
Genus D r y o c o p u s .
As restricted, this genus contains but a single species.
209. D r y o c o p u s m a r t i u s ...........................................................................................................Vol. III. PI. LXXIII.
G r ea t B lack W o o d p e c k e r .
This bird is o f large s iz e ; and the prevailing tint o f its plumage is sooty black, relieved by red on the
crown. Its native localities are the pine-woods o f Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. Many instances of
its having been killed in Britain are recorded ; but it is probable that not one o f them is authentic. At all
events there is not a certified British-killed specimen in any o f our Museums or private collections;
consequently it is a very doubtful visitor. For further information respecting it I refer my readers to the
letterpress accompanying the Plate.
Subfamily GECININA5.
Genus G e c in u s .
The members o f this genus (known as Green Woodpeckers) being less arboreal than the true Pici, spend
much o f their time on the ground. In Britain the trimly kept lawns and meadows are favourite places .of