10 Allen's naturalist's library. 



call-note, which our best field-naturalists render as "tchick" 

 or "chink." It is certainly a peculiar call, and, when once 

 recognised, is not likely to be mistaken. Mr. Seebohm also 

 states that it has a second note like " the syllable tra'' This 

 I have not noticed, but the other resounding note may often 

 be heard in our woodlands, though the bird itself will be rarely 

 observed. In the spring-time both this Woodpecker and its 

 smaller cousin, D. ininor^ produce a loud noise by drumming 

 with their bills on the branches or twigs of a tree, and these 

 vibrating taps are generally supposed to be a signal or call-note 

 between the sexes. Certainly this noise can be heard at a 

 considerable distance. The food of the Great Spotted Wood- 

 pecker consists of insects of all sorts, which it procures after 

 the manner of its kind by hammering at the bark of a tree and 

 prising it off. It also feeds on fruit and nuts, acorns, berries, 

 c\:c. It is the only British Woodpecker which is a migrant, 

 and nearly every year considerable numbers cross the ocean. 

 When I was in Heligoland with Mr. Seebohm, five young 

 D. major were brought to us alive one Sunday morning, having 

 been caught by boys in the potato-fields, where they had 

 dropped to rest, in an exhausted state. 



Nest. — None. As with other Woodpeckers, the eggs are laid 

 on chips or powdered wood at the end of a hole, hollowed 

 in nearly every case by the birds themselves. The eggs are 

 laid about the middle of May, and both birds are said to assist 

 in their incubation. 



Eggs. — From five to seven in number, sometimes eight being 

 known. Axis, i'o-i'i5; diam., o75-o'S5. 



II. THE HAIRY WOODPECKER. DENDROCOPUS VILLOSUS. 



Ficiis villosus, Forster, Phil. Trans. Ixii. p. 383 (1^72). 



Dendrocopus villosiis, B. O. U. List Br. B. p. 77 (1883); 



Saunders, Man. p. 266 (1889); Hargitt, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. 



xviii. p. 230 (1890). 



Adult Male. — Of moderate size. Black and white, with a 



broad white stripe down the middle of the back ; scapulars, 



rump, and upper tail-coverts black ; four centre tail-feathers 



black, the next one black for the basal half, white for the ter- 



