THE GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER 
quently seen in the tops of trees, and does not visit the 
ground so much as the Green Woodpecker ; otherwise 
the habits of the two species have much in common. 
I ought to add that the bird is also more commonly seen 
in orchards and wooded private grounds than its larger 
ally, often taking up its residence in them for weeks, but 
invariably disappearing as the breeding season comes 
round. It is just as shy and secretive, just as solitary, 
and obtains its food in much the same way. It searches 
trunks and branches, usually commencing at the foot of a 
tree and working upwards in erratic course, ever and anon 
pausing to hammer away at the bark, supporting itself 
by its long and rigid tail. Like the Green Woodpecker it 
generally contrives to pursue this search on the further side 
of the timber, at intervals peering round the trunk or 
limb, just its head visible, and then disappearing again. 
Its tapping may be heard for a long distance through the 
silent woodlands, and sometimes the blows follow each 
other so rapidly that they sound as if the tree or branch 
were being torn asunder; this has been thought to 
be a signal between the sexes, as it becomes specially 
frequent during the breeding season. Its usual call-note 
is a shrill whit. ‘The food of the Great Spotted Wood- 
pecker consists of insects and larve, berries of various 
kinds, stone-fruits, nuts, and acorns. It breeds in May 
and June, apparently pairs for life, and frequently uses 
the same site year by year. ‘The nest is a hole excavated 
in some tree-trunk or large branch, but sometimes one 
already made is utilised. It is the usual shaft, enlarged 
at the bottom, and here the eggs are deposited with no 
other provision. ‘These are from five to eight; white, 
with a faint suffusion of yellow, and considerably polished. 
But one brood is reared each year. During winter this 
Woodpecker wanders about a good deal, and occasionally 
visits places where trees are small or absolutely wanting. 
The adult male Great Spotted Woodpecker has the 
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