28l 



at least three years. The Lesser Spotted in Mr. 

 Maxwell's possessiou, could not appear in better condi- 

 tion if it were in its native haunts. I do not know if Mr. 

 Galloway has succeeded in bringing his Green through 

 the moult ; but, knowing him to be capable of wonders 

 where insectivorous birds are concerned, I fully expect 

 it to be still in the land of the living, in fine form and 

 quite ready to do battle on the show bench again. I 

 think the Green Woodpecker requires more care than 

 the others. 



I consider the Woodpeckers, when hand-reared from 

 the nest, to be very interesting and attractive cage birds. 

 I have never possessed a wild-caught specimen, and 

 would expect such to be most difficult to keep alive, 

 and almost impossible to tame. To those desirous ot 

 keeping these birds, I would certainly suggest a 

 hand-reared specimen. If one wishes to rear Wood- 

 peckers from the nest, I am given to understand that 

 they should be taken when only a few days old, even 

 before the e3-es are open. 



As the three species are all residents in this country-, 

 either may be selected as a pet : but to a beginner, 

 because cheaper to buy, easier to obtain, and hardier of 

 constitution, I would suggest that Dendrocopiis major, as 

 the Greater Spotted is called by ornithologists, should 

 be the first species chosen. This is a beautiful bird, 

 nearly as large as a Thrush, with lovely markings of 

 black and white. The male possesses, in addition, a 

 crimson nape, well defined. I have found this bird as 

 hardy as possible, and quite as eas}^ to keep in good 

 condition as a Thrush or Blackbird, on such food 

 as biscuit-meal, nuts, sunflower and other seeds, with 

 mealworms occasionally, and blackbeetles when pro- 

 curable. 



If the Lesser Spotted [Dendrocopiis minor) is the bird 

 obtained, this being about the size of a Wheatear, and 

 not so hardy in constitution as Dendt-ocopiis major, more 

 attention must naturally be bestowed upon the sprightly 

 little fellow; who will, if sufficient care betaken, become 



