PIED WOODPECKER.
Pic us m ajor, Lmru,
PIED WOODPECKER.
PICUS MAJOR, Linn.
Mr. J. G. Keulemans has furnished me with the
accompanying Plate, showing the change of colour in
the feathers of the head in both sexes of this species :
the original drawings were taken from a pair of living
birds in his possession, and he has very obligingly
supplied me with the following explanatory references
:—
Illustrations of changes of colour in the feathers of head in
both sexes.
Fig. 1. Type of nestling plumage.
Fig. 1a. Type of young bird ($ ) prior to the first indications
of change. (Sketched from life on Nov. 5.)
Fig. 2. Young female of the same age (five months).
(Sketched on Nov. 5.)
Fig. 3. The same individual thirty-seven days after; representing
type of adult female. (Sketched Dec. 12.)
Fig. 4. Young male (same individual as represented in
fig. 1a) at the age of six months and five days.
(Sketched Dec. 12.)
Fig. 5. The same individual at the age of about ten months.
(Sketched April 24.)
Note.—The change of colour in the plumage of the head
first showed itself in the female. In August I noticed that
several black feathers had made their appearance amongst