THE MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER.
Picus medius, Linnæus; Le Pic varié à tête rouge, Buffon; Der Mittlerer Buntspecht, Bechstein.
This is only distinguished from the former by being rather smaller: the beak is more slender, and very pointed. The top of the head is crimson, and the region of the vent rose-coloured. It is, besides, less common, and the young which are reared are not so untractable, though never very docile[27]. They are generally kept in a cage, and fastened by a little chain.
THE LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER.
Picus minor, Linnæus; Le Petit Epeiche, Buffon; Der Kleiner Buntspecht, Bechstein.
This bird is the size of a lark, five inches and a half in length, two of which are included in the tail, and the beak measures seven lines. The feet are of a greenish black; the rump is white; the top of the head crimson; the nape of the neck black; the back white, with transverse streaks of black; the under part of the body is of a reddish white grey, and the sides are streaked with black.
The female had no red on the head.