BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 507 



WOODPECKER, LESSER SPOTTED. 



{Dendrocopus minor?) 

 Order PICARLE ; Family PICIM (WOODPECKERS). 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about five 

 and three-quarter inches. Beak of medium length, 

 broad at the base, straight, and leaden grey in 

 colour. Irides hazel. Crown bright scarlet, sides 

 of head brownish-white. A black stripe runs from 

 the base of the beak over the eye to the nape, which 

 is black also ; another runs from the base of the 

 under mandible below the eye, and beneath the 

 ear-coverts. Back of neck and upper back black. 

 Wings black, barred and spotted with white ; middle 

 of back white, barred with black ; rump and upper 

 tail-coverts black. Tail-quills black, some of them 

 edged and tipped with white, others white, barred 

 with black. Chin, throat, and under-parts brownish- 

 white ; sides of breast and flanks streaked and slightly 

 barred with black. Legs, toes, and claws lead grey. 



The female has the crown brownish-white, occa- 

 sionally shaded with red ; black of nape commences 

 further forward, and under-parts are darker. 



Situation and Locality. In a hole, dug or 

 enlarged, in the stem or large branch of a tree. 

 Pear and apple trees appear to be favourites. The 

 hole is usually from six or seven to twelve or fourteen 

 inches deep. In orchards, spinneys, parks, woods, 

 and well-timbered districts generally, in the south 

 and west of England, and as far north as York. 



Materials. None, the eggs being laid on the 

 wood-dust and fine chips at the bottom of the hole. 



Eggs. Five to nine, six being the general 

 number, white and glossy. Size about .76 by .58 in. 



