Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/235

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THREE-TOED WOODPECKER.
199


Bill bluish-black, the lower mandible greyish-blue, as are the feet, the scutella and claws black. Iris bluish-black. The general colour of the upper parts is deep glossy black, the head with blue reflections, the back with green. Crown of the head yellow tinged with orange. Quills blackish-brown, the outer primaries with seven rows of white spots. Two middle tail-feathers black, two next of the same colour, but with three cream-coloured spots on the edge of the outer web towards the end ; two next black at the base, cream-coloured towards the end, black at the tip ; two next cream-coloured, with little black at the base, and a mere touch of black on the tip ; two next of the same colour, with very little black at the base ; the two outermost, which are very short, rounded, and generally concealed, barred with black and cream-colour. A white band from the base of the mandible passes under the eye, and there is a very slender line of the same behind it. Throat, fore neck, and anterior part of the breast, white ; the rest of the under parts also white, but barred with black.

Length 10^ inches, extent of wings 16; bill along the ridge l/g, along the edge /^; tarsus ^, middle toe and claw l, of hind toe and claw 1|.

Adult Female. Plate CXXXII. Fig. 2.

The female wants the yellow patch on the crown of the head, and has the line of white behind the eye rather more conspicuous, but in other respects resembles the~ male.