1 63 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Green Woodpecker are from five to 

 eight in number, pure and glossy white, smooth and 

 highly polished. Average measurement, i'3 inch in 

 length, by '9 inch in breadth. Incubation, performed 

 by both sexes, lasts, according to Thienemann, from 

 sixteen to eighteen days. 



Dl-\GNOSTIC characters : The size, polished sur- 

 face, and white colour, readily distinguish the eggs of 

 the Green Woodpecker from those of all other species 

 breeding in our islands, likely to be confused with 

 them. 



Family PICID^. Genus Picus. 



LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 



Picus MINOR, Linnccus. 



Single Brooded, generally. Laying season, end of April and 

 through May. 



British breeding area : The range of the Lesser 

 Spotted Woodpecker in our islands is very similar to 

 that of the preceding species. The present bird is 

 pretty generally distributed throughout the wooded 

 districts of England, from Yorkshire southwards. It 

 is most abundant in the southern districts, although 

 everywhere somewhat local. It is not known to breed 

 in Scotland or Ireland, only being a rare straggler to 

 those countries. 



Breeding habits : The Lesser Spotted W^oodpecker 

 is a resident. It frequents very similar localities to 



