120 THE BIRDS OP OXFOEDSHIEE. 



without several specimens being sent to the bird-stufPers ; at 

 the latter season I have twice seen it in the wooded fields 

 of Bloxham Grove. 



That an immigration of this species to the eastern side of 

 England from some part of Europe occasionally takes place in 

 autumn is well known, and a male procured near Bodicote on 

 the 3rd December, 1887, which had the under parts of a 

 deeper tint than usual, and exhibited traces of red markings 

 on the breast, was probably of continental origin (cf . YarrelFs 

 History of British Birds, vol. ii. p. 475). 



THE LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 



Dendrocopits minor. 

 The Lesser Spotted, or Barred, Woodpecker is a resident, 

 and is not at all uncommon, but, from its diminutive size, and 

 its habit of frequenting the upper branches of tall forest trees, 

 is generally overlooked. In such situations, when climbing 

 on the upper side of a branch, it easily escapes the notice of 

 an observer from below, who, unless attracted by the sound 

 of its tapping, its rarely uttered cry, or the curious noise to 

 be referred to presently, would probably pass it by. Even 

 when its presence is detected by any of these signs, it is no 

 easy matter to get a clear sight of the bird. Its distribution 

 over the county appears to be subject only to the presence of 

 a sufficiency of timber trees, although its requirements in this 

 way are not so extensive as those of its larger relative. The 

 Barred Woodpecker often enters villages, even in summer, 

 and in June, 1880, a shot fired at some Sparrows in a row 

 of scarlet-runner bean sticks, in a garden at Bodicote, resulted 

 in the death of an immatui'e bird of this species. Mr. E. W. 

 Harcourt informs me that it has bred recently in the park at 

 Nuneham, and it probably does so annually at Broughton, 

 Wroxton, Great Tew, Bloxham Grove, and in many other 

 localities. In winter it is widely distributed wherever hedge- 

 row timber is found. 



