. A text-book of agricultural zoology. Zoology, Agricultural; Zoology, Economic. 388 BEITISH BIRDS. (vi) Pici. Woodpeckers and Wrynecks (Picidte).. Fig. 193.—ScANSiiRiAL Foot, as seen in Woodpeckers and Parrots. The Picidss have the hallux and fourth toe turned back, the second and third forwards (fig. 193). Three Woodpeckers occur in Great Britain, — the Great Green Woodpecker [Gednus viridis), the Great Spotted Wood- pecker (Picus major), and the Lesser Spotted (P. minor). The Woodpeckers hammer out holes in trees in which they form their nests. The green woodpecker outs out a neat circular
. A text-book of agricultural zoology. Zoology, Agricultural; Zoology, Economic. 388 BEITISH BIRDS. (vi) Pici. Woodpeckers and Wrynecks (Picidte).. Fig. 193.—ScANSiiRiAL Foot, as seen in Woodpeckers and Parrots. The Picidss have the hallux and fourth toe turned back, the second and third forwards (fig. 193). Three Woodpeckers occur in Great Britain, — the Great Green Woodpecker [Gednus viridis), the Great Spotted Wood- pecker (Picus major), and the Lesser Spotted (P. minor). The Woodpeckers hammer out holes in trees in which they form their nests. The green woodpecker outs out a neat circular hole, hy choice in a soft-wooded tree—this tunnel running in as far as the hard central wood, and then turning downwards at right angles, where a large chamber is formed, in which the five to seven eggs arc laid on a bed of wood-chips. There is a new nesting-hole formed every year. Sound as well as decayed trees are attacked; but the good the green woodpecker does in destroying injurious insects makes up for the harm it does to a few trees. They feed almost exclusively on insects, especially the larvfe of wood-boring beetles, which we see them hunting for up the tree-trunks. The stiff feathers of the tail help them in their progress up the trunk. Ants and other ground-insects are also eaten by G. viridis, it being no unusual thing to see them hunting on the ground. This handsome woodpecker has green upper plumage, greyish - green under plumage, and bright crimson crown and nape. The Great Spotted Woodpecker (Picus major) and the Lesser Spotted (P. minor) also live in a similar way, and feed off wood- destroying Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Theobald, Frederick Vincent, 1868-1930. Edinburgh and London, W. Blackwood and Sons
Size: 2364px × 1057px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1899
