LESSEK-SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 293 



meeting, or perhaps a specimen exhibited, and was 

 never entered in our minutes." Here, therefore, 

 my researches ended, but I think enough has been 

 eUcited to render it more than doubtful whether the 

 birds, above referred to, were really specimens of the 

 great-black woodpecker, and that until some more 

 authentic instance of the occurrence of that species 

 should entitle it to be replaced, it will be best removed 

 altogether from the Norfolk "List." Mr. Drake par- 

 ticularly remarks that the birds were not preserved, 

 which would undoubtedly have been the case had they 

 been exhibited before the society in London, and Mr. 

 Yarrell speaks only of a "communication" made, without 

 any reference to specimens. Supposing also, as Mr. 

 Sclater suggests, that the matter was only " mentioned 

 in the way of conversation," without any entry being 

 subsequently made in the minutes, it is most probable 

 that Yarrell was himself present at the meeting, or was 

 informed of the circumstance by some other member of 

 the society. 



PICUS MINOR, Linnseus. 



LESSER-SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 



This species, though undoubtedly scarce, probably 

 appears even more so than it really is, its small size and 

 wary nature rendering it easily overlooked. It remains 

 with us throughout the year, and breeds in the county, 

 but is extremely local. Mr. Gurney informs me that 

 within his recollection they were killed occasionally in 

 Cossey Park, where they were supposed to be residents ; 

 and BHckling Park would seem to be another favourite 

 haunt, from specimens having been obtained from 

 time to time in that locality, of which two are stated 

 by Messrs. Gurney and Fisher in the "Zoologist" (pp. 



