LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 277 



then the preceding species, while its diminutive size adds 

 to the difficulty of detecting it in its woodland haunts. Like 

 its larger relative it loves the seclusion of old timbered parks, 

 and has been recorded as nesting in various parts of the 

 West Riding ; at or near Wakefield, in 1858 ; Huddersfield, 

 in 185 1 ; Ackworth ; once in Batley Wood (which is now a 

 Leeds recreation ground) ; and at Eccup near Leeds ; also 

 in the lower Nidd Valley ; in the Washburn Valley, near 

 Fewston ; and at Studley. After the breeding season the 

 bird is more widely distributed, and more frequently observed, 

 the occurrences being too numerous for mention in detail, 

 though it may be remarked that, in the Wilsden district, 

 several examples have been noticed recently, and it may 

 probably be nesting there. 



Other places from which the nest has been recorded are 

 in the neighbourhood of York, Escrick, Allerthorpe Common, 

 and Scampston Park. It is a rare bird near Beverley ; one 

 was taken in 1899, a second in 1901, which I had an opportunity 

 of examining ; another example was seen in the winter of 

 1901-2, and a male was killed on the public common on 8th 

 March 1903. In the Burton Agnes collection is a local 

 specimen which was shot by Sir H. Boynton. This species 

 is also announced to have nested in Mulgrave Woods near 

 Whitby, in 1893 ; another pair bred in Grinkle Woods in 

 1901, and they succeeded in getting the young away a few 

 days only before the nesting tree was felled. It has been 

 noted in Wensleydale ; a single instance is reported of its 

 breeding near Masham in 1888 ; in Arnchffe Woods the bird 

 occurs, but I have no information of its nesting there, and 

 the same remark applies to localities in Cleveland, near Redcar, 

 Marton, and Easby, where individuals are annually noticed. 

 At one of these places four " Little Woodpeckers," as they 

 are termed, frequented a wood in 1898, a pair were noted 

 in 1901, while another pair were seen in a spinney near Redcar 

 during the winter of 1901-2. Near Sedbergh the nest has been 

 recorded on one occasion only. 



In communicating an account of the nidification of this 

 bird at Scampston Park, Mr. W. H. St. Quintin remarks 



