Ptci'ne and Cuckoo-like Birds. 



89 



replaced bv a black band in the female, which otherwise resembles the male. It is 

 a species of the southern and midland counties of England, becoming gradually 

 scarcer towards the north, and to Scotland and Ireland it is only a rare visitor. It is 

 found throughout the greater part of Europe. The food of the Green Woodpecker 

 consists largely of ants and it may often be seen digging among the ant-hills. The 

 note is a noisy cackling laugh, which can be heard at a considerable distance. It is 

 a shy bird, and generally commences work on the trunk of a tree opposite to the 

 spectator and makes its way to the top, occasionally putting its head round to see 



I — The Green Woodpecker. 2 — The Gre.\t Black Woodpecker. 



3 — The Great Spotted Woodpecker. 



4 — The Hairy Woodpecker. 5 — The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. 



that there is no danger approaching. There is no nest, but the eggs, which are pure 

 white and from four to seven in number, are laid on the chips of wood at the 

 bottom of a hole which is excavated by the birds themselves. 



Although this large species has been recorded as having 

 occurred \n several places m Great Britain, but one instance 

 of its capture can be considered authentic beyond any doubt. 

 A specimen was shot near Otley, in Yorkshire, in the 

 presence of Colonel Dawson, on the 8th of September, 1897, 



THE GRE.\T 



BLACK 



WOODPECKER. 



I Picas martitis.) 



