BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. G59 



in deep shady woods, not unfrequently in the cottage 

 orchard, as well as high up in the ash or elm near the 

 mansion or in the farm-yard. 



86. Jay. Garrulus glandarius. Permanently resident. Abun- 

 dant. A truly sylvan bird. Nestles in the hazel, the young 

 oak mantled with woodbine, also in the hawthorn bush 

 growing in the silent wood. After the breeding season, 

 Jays keep together, and feed much upon garden produce, 

 such as pease, currants, and cherries, llarely found far 

 from the hedgerow, copse, plantation, or wood. 



87. Oreen Woodpecker. Picus viridis. Permanently resident. 

 Plentiful. Returns annually to the same nestling-places, 

 commencing about the middle of May. The young are 

 abroad about the middle of June. Haunts our hedgerow 

 trees in the spring months, and approaches large towns ; 

 utters its " loud laugh," as ^Vhite calls it, when it is boring 

 for ants' eggs on the mound or grassy hillock, as well as 

 when it is climbing, and tapping for insects on the bole of 

 the decayed ash, chestnut, beech, oak, or maple. Solitary 

 in its habits. Abundant in Bradgate and Ganendon Parks. 



88. Greater Spotted Woodpecker. Picus Major. Permanently 

 resident. Generally distributed, but not so often seen as 

 the Green Woodpecker. Inhabits the closest and deepest 

 woods, where it nestles undisturbed. Found in Martin- 

 shaw, Grooby, and Ulverscroft Woods, near to Leicester. 



89. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Picus minor. Permanently 

 resident in our parks and woodlands. Nestles in Oakley 

 and Piper Woods, where it is not very uncommon. When 

 the weather is severe in winter, it leaves the parks, and 

 frequents large, extensive, and unfrequented woods. By 

 the country-people it is called the Tabberer or Tapper er^ 

 from the noise it makes when tapping for insects. 



90. Wryneck. Junx Torquilla. A summer visitor, arriving 

 about the vernal, and departing towards the autumnal equi- 

 nox. Not uncommon in our woodlands. Aftects gardens, 

 orchards, old enclosures, and particularly where pollard and 

 stunted trees are found. Very partial to old and decayed 

 plum trees. Also frequents grass plots. Emits from the 



