250 BRITISH lilHDS. [vol. ix. 



UNUSUAL FOOD OF GREAT SPOTTED 

 WOODPECKER. 



As the Great Spotted A\'o()(l])ccker is usually regarded as 

 insectivorous, the following i^articulars may be of interest. 



In March, 1915, 1 established a bird-table outside my library- 

 window at Weybridge, and one of the earliest and most fearless 

 visitors was a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobatcs m. 

 amjlims). The food provided consisted of hempseed, Brazil 

 nuts, porridge and coconuts ; the Woodpecker came many 

 times a day and consumed large C{uantities of porridge and 

 coconut. Towards the end of June the visits were discon- 

 tinued, and I did not see the bird again until the end of 

 December, and it now returns daily. Edgar Syers. 



LITTLE OWL IN STAFFORDSHIRE. 



Since the reintroduction of this species into England, three 

 records of its occurrence in Staffordshire have been recorded 

 (antea. Vol. I., p. 339, and Vol. III., p. 307). I can now give 

 two more records for this county. On December 31st, 1911. 

 Mr. A. 0. Worthington, of Maple Hayes, near Lichfield, wTOte 

 that on that date he saw a Little Owl in the park — '' it was 

 very tame, within fifteen yards of me, and gave me five 

 minutes before flying aAvay, pursued by small birds." On 

 December 28th, 1915, another specimen in the flesh Wcxs sent 

 to me, shot by mistake for a Woodcock ! We have so far 

 no record of this bird nesting in the county, that I am 

 aware of. John R. B. Masefielo. 



STATUS OF THE LITTLE OWL IN STAFFORDSHIRE. 



Mr. J. R. B. Masefield's note does not give by any means a 

 full or complete account of the spread of this species in 

 Staffordshire since the first specimen was recorded near 

 Newport, on the Shropshire border, in October, 1906. On 

 November 5th, 190G, Messrs. A. G. and 11. C. Tomlinson 

 watched one for some time within a few yards, in a bush close 

 1() the Woodlands, Burton-on-Trent (Field, Nov. 10. 190(>. 

 aiul Journ. D.A. ti- N.II.^S., 1907. p. 128). This locality. 

 1 hough quite close to the Staffordshire border, is however 

 in Derbyshire. Another was shot at Burton, March 13tli. 

 1909, and sent to A. S. Hutchinson of Derby (Hep. N.S.F.C, 

 1908-9, p. 71, Brit. B., III., 307). One shot "at Lichfiekl, Nov. 

 27th, 1909, is recorded by A. G. Leigh (Brit. B.. 111., p. 307), 

 while Mr. C Moore rc]iorts one shot at Yoxall in 1910. and one 

 seen at Hints, near Taniworlh. Aug.. 1911 {l\(p. N.S.F.(\. 



