resort. Their food mainly consists o f ants and their larvte. Besides G. viridis, three more species inhabit
Europe ; and others are to be found in Asia and Africa.
210. G e c i n u s v i r i d i s . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. LXXIV.
G r e en W o o d pe ck er o r Ya f f l e .
A resident species in England, in many parts o f which it is known by the name o f “ Yaffle.” I t is rare in
Scotland, and has not yet been seen in the sister kingdom of Ireland.
211. G e c i n u s v i r i d i s . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. LXXV.
G r e e n W o o d p e c k e r or Y a f f l e (young).
Subfamily COLAPTIN/E.
Genus C o l a p t e s .
A purely American form, comprising about six o r seven species, ranging from the United States to Bolivia.
212. C o l a p t e s a u r a t u s .
Golden-winged Woodpecker.
A native o f the eastern parts of North America, a single example o f which was killed in Ainesbury Park,
Wiltshire, in the autumn o f 1836, as recorded by Mr. George S. Marsh, o f Chippenham, in the ‘ Zoologist ’
for 1859, p. 6327, where he says, “ My brother saw this bird in the flesh, ju st after it was shot. I t was
preserved by Mr. Edwards, o f Amesbury, and has never been out o f my possession.”
Subfamily YUNGIN/E.
Genus Y u n x .
Only three or four species are known o f this very anomalous Old-World form. Their range extends over
a great portion o f the northern regions o f Asia, entering Japan, and one species Eastern and Southern Africa.
213. Y u n x t o r q u i l l a . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. LXXVI.
W ryneck.
A true harbinger o f spring, arrives before the Swallow, serenades us with its peculiar cry o f Pee-pee-pae,
and but seldom exposes its body to view. Is generally distributed over England and the southern portion of
Scotland. Our Irish ornithologists must regret that it does not visit their country; for a more curious
creature does not exist. Many o f its actions, and the character o f its markings, have procured for it the
trivial name of “ Snakebird.”
ORDER RASORES.
Family COLUMBAE.
The members o f the Columb®, o r Pigeons, may be said to be more universally dispersed than any other
family o f b ird s ; for there is no portion of the globe, favoured with a temperate or warm climate, where
representatives o f one o r more o f the various genera o f which it is composed do not exist. In round
numbers, between three and four hundred species are now known; o f these, four are inhabitants o f Britain,
one o f which is a summer migrant.
Genus P a l u m b u s .
214. P a l u m b u s t o r q u a t u s . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. I.
Wo o d -P ig e o n or C u s h a t .
A stationary species, universally dispersed over Britain and most parts of Europe and North Africa.
Genus C o lum b a .
A form the members o f which are chiefly confined to the Old World.
215. C o lu m b a c ena s . . . . . . • • • • • • Fol. 1^-
S to ck D o v e .
Partially migratory, but breeds with us.
216. C o l u m b a l i v i a .................................................................................................................................Vol. IV. PI. III.
R o ck- P ig e o n .
Common and stationary in all the rocky portions o f B ritain ; the supposed origin of our domestic Pigeon.
Genus T u r t u r .
This genus is represented by the well-known Turtle Dove, that visits Britain in spring, to which several
eastern species might be added.
217. T u r t u r a u r i t u s ^ •
T u r t l e D o v e .
A true summer resident in all the southern and midland portions of Britain.