84 PIC US PIPRA. 



rapid and undulated, its motions abrupt, and its cry loud and 

 shrill. In ascending a tree it advances by short jerks, directly 

 or spirally, taps with its bill as it proceeds, and on finding a 

 place likely to shelter its prey, drives off the bark, and per- 

 forates the wood. Although a person may approach it while 

 it is actively engaged, it flies off on perceiving him, or glides 

 round to the other side of the tree, sometimes remaining still 

 for a time, as if to conceal itself. 



Montagu states that " it rarely descends to the ground in 

 search of food, and more frequently makes that jarring noise 

 for which the Woodpeckers are distinguished than either of 

 the other species, especially when disturbed from the nest, 

 which,"" he continues, "we had an opportunity of observing. It 

 was with difficulty the bird was made to quit her eggs ; for 

 notwithstanding a chisel and mallet were used to enlarge the 

 hole, she did not attempt to fly out till the hand was intro- 

 duced, when she quitted the tree at another opening. The 

 eggs were five in number, perfectly white and glossy, weighing 

 about one dram, or rather more. They were deposited two 

 feet below the opening, on the decayed wood, without the 

 smallest appearance of a nest. As soon as the female had 

 escaped, she flew to a decayed branch of a neighbouring tree, 

 and there began the jarring noise before mentioned, which was 

 soon answered by the male from a distant part of the wood, 

 who soon joined his mate, and both continued these vibrations, 

 trying different branches, till they found the most sonorous." 



Mr Harley, of Leicester, who has generously and spon- 

 taneously aided me with observations made on the birds of 

 the midland counties, writes respecting the present species as 

 follows : — " We have the Greater Spotted Woodpecker here 

 also, but it is not quite so common as the Green one. It 

 affects the deep umbrageous woods of Oakley and Piper. In 

 AVorcestershire and Herefordshire I have seen it upon the 

 moss-grown apple trees, particularly the very aged ones. From 

 the attention I have paid to its habits, I think I say the truth 

 when I affirm that it affects the tops of trees more than its 

 congener does. The common people here, who have a know- 

 ledge of the bird, call it French Magpie ; and in the counties 

 of Salop and Stafford it is called the Woodpie." 



