PICIN.t. 267 





4 



% 





THE LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 



Dexdrocopus minor (Linnceus). 



Owing to its small size and its partiality to tall trees, such as elms 

 and poplars, this little Woodpecker frequently escapes observation ; 

 but, though less widely distributed than the preceding species, it is 

 the more numerous of the two in many parts of the southern half 

 of England, being, in fact, rather common near London and along 

 the valley of the Thames, as well as in the western midlands. In 

 Yorkshire it becomes scarce and very local, while in Lancashire and 

 the northern counties it is extremely rare. In the Solway district 

 Mr. Service informs me that three examples have been obtained, at 

 long intervals, since i860, but in the rest of Scotland it is almost 

 unknown. In Ireland only six or seven instances are on record ; 

 none of them recent. 



In Scandinavia the Lesser Spotted \\'oodpecker breeds as far north 

 as lat. 70°, while in Russia it is found up to Archangel and to lat. 67° 

 in the valleys of the Petchora and the Ob ; though eastward, to the 

 Pacific, its northerly range is rather less extensive. Forms which 

 vary slightly from the type are found in Kamschatka, Japan, and 

 Northern China, but their southern limits in Asia are as yet unde- 

 fined; while in Asia Minor another occurs, and yet another in Algeria. 

 Throughout the greater part of Europe our race is generally dis- 

 tributed, but though common in Southern Russia and Turkey, yet 



