GREEN WOODPECKER 443 



white eggs, which are laid on the chips formed during the process of 

 excavation, without anything in the way of a nest. 



Both groups of British woodpeckers are characterised by the 

 presence of feathers conceaHng the nostrils ; the yaffle being, as 

 already mentioned, specially distinguished by the predominance of 

 green in its colouring. In both sexes the upper- parts are mainly 

 olive-green, passing into yellow on the hind region of the back, and 

 the under-parts greyish, and both have the crown of the head and 

 nape of the neck crimson ; the cock has, however, in addition, a black- 

 edged crimson cheek-stripe, represented by a black one in the hen, 

 which has also less crimson on the head. Young birds are duller in 

 colour, with dusky mottlings above and arrowhead-markings below. 



The yaffle is the typical representative of a large group of species, 

 ranging from Europe across Asia as far east as Java and Sumatra. 

 Its own range is apparently limited to the eastward by the Ural 

 Mountains and the Caucasus range, and farther south by J^ersia. 

 The Mediterranean marks its extreme southern range, but not every- 

 where, for the Spanish yaffle is regarded as a distinct species. In 

 Norway this woodpecker is known to breed so far north as latitude 

 6^°, but farther east, where the climate is more severe, the northern 

 breeding-limit is some three degrees less. Throughout its habitat the 

 bird is a permanent resident. Although formerly much commoner, 

 the green woodpecker is now a comparatively scarce bird in many 

 parts of England ; but even in the home counties it has still many 

 resorts, and will occasionally make its appearance on the gravel-walks 

 of gardens in search of its favourite ants. More abundant in the south 

 of England than in the Midlands, in Yorkshire these birds become very 

 scarce, and to Scotland they are only occasional visitors. Strange to 

 say, the species is not a native of Ireland, where only three instances 

 of its occurrence were recorded up to 1900; but then, for some still 

 unexplained reason, the whole woodpecker-group (inclusive of the 

 wryneck) is unknown in Ireland except as casual visitors. 



In common with other green woodpeckers, the yaffle, as already 

 stated, is seen much more commonly on the ground or on fallen timber 

 than on trees ; and as it feeds largely on ants, the reason for this is 

 not far to seek. From this habit the species is more often seen than 

 the spotted woodpeckers, although it may be the least common ; and, 

 even when keeping to woods or trees in parks, its presence is revealed 

 by the loud laughing cry from which it takes its name of yaffle. When 

 ants are not procurable, this woodpecker obtains insects, grubs, etc., 

 from beneath the outer bark of trees ; and. when engaged in tapping 



