THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 
part a solitary bird, and although paired for life the sexes 
do not appear to keep very close company except during 
the breeding season. There are few warier species, and 
even when feeding it is watchful enough, and always 
endeavours to pursue its search on the side of the trunk 
or branch furthest away from an observer. If approached 
too closely it departs in a dipping flight to another tree, 
often uttering a shrill and loud hi-h1-hi as it goes. ‘This 
note, however, is chiefly heard during the breeding season. 
It by no means confines itself to the trunks and big limbs 
of trees, upon which much of its food is sought, but 
readily perches on the slender branches near the top. It 
may be observed to alight on some massive tree-trunk 
close to the ground, and then in a more or less zigzag 
course work its way up to the summit, creeping about the 
bark, supported by its stiff tail-feathers, and occasionally 
running out for some distance above or below the larger 
limbs, every now and then the lusty tapping of its stout 
bill being heard as it dislodges some lurking insect. 
Occasionally it may be flushed from the ground, to which 
it resorts in quest of ants and their larve. ‘The food of 
this Woodpecker largely consists of insects, occasionally 
acorns and hazel-nuts, and I have repeatedly seen the 
bird eating haws. Its breeding season commences in 
April or early May, the nest being made in a hole of a 
tree, less frequently in a cliff. This hole is dug out by 
the old birds, the hard, powerful, chisel-shaped bill being 
admirably adapted for the purpose. Sometimes the wood 
is rotten or partly so, and then the work is easy ; at others 
it is sound, involving much more labour. For a little 
way the hole is more or less horizontal, then it takes a 
downward turn for about a foot, and at the bottom, in an 
enlarged chamber, the eggs are laid on no other nest but 
the powdered wood or a few chips. An occupied nest is 
generally indicated by a number of these chips lying on 
the ground below. The eggs, from five to eight, are 
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