STRIATED WOODPECKER. 89 



evening ; and, though frequently aroused, will freely return. 

 Whatever be the purpose of this enormous noise, they certainly 

 do very nimbly watch, and eagerly pick up, the insects they 

 have disturbed by it. They fly in jerks like their congeners, 

 and always alight on the side of a tree." These notices are 

 extracted from the earlier volumes of ]\Ir Loudon's ISIagazine 

 of Natural History, a work replete with information respect- 

 ing our native birds. 



]\Ir Harley informs me that it occurs about Leicester, but is 

 not a resident all the year round, as are the Green and Greater 

 Spotted Woodpeckers, remaining only during the vernal, sum- 

 mer, and part of the autumnal mouths. 



Montagu states that it has all the habits of the Greater Spot- 

 ted Woodpecker, as well as a similar but less strong note. 

 " The eggs are white, and weigh about thirty-three grains ; 

 five of them we took out of a decayed tree, deposited on the 

 rotten wood, without any nest, and at a considerable distance 

 below the entrance. The aperture corresponded with the size 

 of the bird, but did not appear recently made. It is probable, 

 however, it is able to perform this work for itself; and in- 

 stinct points out the insecurity in making choice of a larger 

 opening to their place of incubation, as they would then be lia- 

 ble to be dislodged by the larger species, the daw, and the stare." 



This curious little bird appears to be peculiar to Europe, 

 where it is generally distributed. It usually prefers the higher 

 branches of trees, although it by no means confines itself 

 to them, and is so intent on searching for its food that it 

 pays little regard to a person coming to watch or shoot it. 

 Like the other species, however, as well as the Creeper, if it 

 perceive its observer, it moves round to the other side of the 

 branch to conceal itself. The loud noise above described is 

 supposed by some to be an amatory performance, as it is heard 

 only or chiefly in spring, while others conjecture it to be pro- 

 duced by a rapid tapping of the bill, for the purpose of disturb- 

 ing insects that are lodged in the bark. This latter opinion is 

 more probable, for in spring it besides emits its ordinary notes 

 so much more frequently and loudly than usual, that they may 

 well pass for a love song. 



