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The black Woodpecker.
Numb. XXVII.
TH I S Bird weighed ten Ounces and a,half, being in Length, from the Tip of
the Bill to the End o f the Tail eighteen Inches and a half; Breadth between the
Tips o f the Wings extended twenty nine Inches and a half.
Its Bill from the Point to the Angles 'o f. the Mouth was two Inches and a half
- long, ftrong, hard, triangular, as in the reft of this Kind, being parti-coloured black
and white;- the Tongue, when extended, is of a very great Length, which it can (hoot
out and draw back at pleafure, which is common to all the Woodpeckers; its Noftrils
are round Covered with refleftcd Hairs; Its Head, large; the Irides o f the Eyes of a
pale yellow.
The Colour o f the whole Body is black excepting the-Crown of the Head, which
down to the Noftrils is o f a lovely red or vermilion Colour.
The Number of flag Eeathers in each Wing is nineteen, o f which the fifth and
ilxth are the longeft; the farcel or pinion Feather is very fhort, and not greater than
thofe o f the fecond Row.
The Tail is made up of ten Eeathers, o f which the outmoft are fhorteft, die.reft
on both fides gradually longer to the two middlemoft, 'which‘are the longeft o f all;
the Ends o f thefe Eeathers are ftiff, fharp pointed bending inward, about feven Inches
long, upon which in climbling Trees they lean and fupport their Bodies.
The Legs are feathered on their fore Part ahnoft down to their Feet, behind no
further than the Knees; the Feet are o f a lead Colour; the Claws ftrong and large,
except that of the lefler'back Toe. 1
The Gall o f a dark green; the Teftides yellowiih; the Guts feventeen Inches
long,* great and lax; the. Stomach alfo lax and membranous,' full of Hexapods and’
Jn ts . It wants the Appendices, or blind Guts as the reft of this Tribe. This Bird!
I faw in the Colle&ion o f Sir Thomas Lowther.
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