356 BRITISH BIRDS. 
breeding-place. A pair of birds or a solitary individual will sometimes 
take up their quarters ina little plantation or an extensive shrubbery, 
remaining there for months, but disappearing as soon as the spring arrives. 
In this manner it will often enter gardens and orchards or pleasure-grounds 
far from its usual haunts, doubtless tempted to them by some favourite 
food. It is of a solitary, shy, and retiring disposition, and seldom more 
than a pair are seen in one locality, more often only a solitary bird. 
It is an interesting sight to watch the Great Spotted Woodpecker at 
work on some large tree, especially in winter, when the leaves are off the 
branches and most of the bird’s movements can be observed. Sometimes 
it commences operations at the foot of the tree, beginning its search 
close to the ground, climbing about in every direction, tapping here and 
there, pausing a second or so now and then, and frequently running out 
on to the larger limbs, working round and round them in busy search for 
the myriads of insects lurking beneath the loose bark and in its crevices. 
Sometimes it turns round and with head downward creeps back a little 
way, then runs rapidly to the right or left, disappearing behind the trunk, 
and again coming into view some distance higher up. During this minute 
search the bird scarcely ever utters a sound, the only noise to be heard is 
the sharp taps of the bill against the tree from time to time as fresh prey 
is dislodged or searched for. After remaining some time on one tree, if 
not previously disturbed, it passes on to another, sometimes in straight- 
forward rapid flight, but more often m a drooping desultory manner. 
- It may often be observed in the slender topmost branches of a tree, and 
even perches crosswise on the twigs like one of the true Passeres. From 
tree to tree is the search eagerly pursued, and long after the interesting 
bird has passed from view its loud tapping or startling call may be 
heard. 
The note of the Great Spotted Woodpecker is a sharply uttered chik or 
chink, given forth at intervals. It has also another cry which is said to 
resemble the syllable ¢ra. The attention of the listener is most often 
arrested by the sound of the bird tapping with its bill on the trunks of 
the trees, which when they are hollow resound to such an extent that it 
can be heard at a great distance. Sometimes the taps succeed each 
other so rapidly that they form a harsh trill. This rapid tapping appears 
to be used as a signal between the sexes, and is common to both, and 
takes the place of a vocal note. It has been suggested that this startling 
whirr was made to frighten out the msects lurking beneath the bark; but 
this theory is not supported by any evidence. This noise is often made 
when the sitting bird is frightened off the nest, and is generally answered 
by its mate with a similar one. 
The food of the Great Spotted Woodpecker is very varied, but consists 
principally of insects in their various stages of growth. It feeds on the 
