THE GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 127 



the eye, and scarlet spot beneath ; upper part of back 

 dark glossy green ; lower part and rump and upper coverts 

 brilliant yellow ; under-parts greenish-white ; under-wing 

 and tail-coverts whitish, irregularly barred across. 



The eggs are placed at the bottom of a hole in the 

 trunk of a tree, which the birds bore out to the extent of 

 sometimes a foot. They are of a pure white. At times 

 these birds have to fight with the starlings, who wait till 

 the hole is completed and then take possession, and are 

 often successful in keeping it. 



The structure and position of the tongue of the wood- 

 pecker is peculiar. It is capable of being protruded to a 

 great length, and this is effected in the manner shown in 

 the figure on page 126. 



THE GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. ' 



The GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER or WOODPIE (Ptcus 

 major), now called Dendrocopus major, is not so common, 

 but occasionally his tap-tap against a decayed branch or 

 stem of oak or ash may be heard. It is sometimes seen 

 searching the alders and pollar willows by the sides of the 

 streams for its insect food, for although at times it will 

 take fruit, especially cherries, yet insects form its principal 

 diet. In spring-time this bird makes a very peculiar jarring 

 noise, at one time supposed to be caused by placing its 

 beak in the cleft of m branch, but it is now ascertained to 

 be the result of a rapid repetition of taps with its beak, and 

 is evidently a call-note, and sounds like, Er-r-r-r-r-r often 

 repeated, quite different to its usual note, which, according 

 to Yarrell, sounds like Quet-quet or Gick-gick ; according to 

 Dresser, Tick or Tchick. 



The bird is very quiet in all its movements, and the rapid 

 way it ascends, always spirally, the bole of a large oak up 

 to its topmost branches is surprising, and then, as it were, 

 suddenly falls, and just with a rapid movement of its wing, 

 directs itself to another tree, and the same plan is repeated. 



The male is a very handsome bird. The irides are bright 

 red ; the forehead buff; ear- coverts and round the eyes 



