GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER 



WHITWALL - - WITWALL WOODWALL WOODNACKER - 

 WOODPIE FRENCH PIE PIED WOODPECKER GREATER 

 SPOTTED WOODPECKER FRENCH WOODPECKER GREAT 

 BLACK AND WHITE WOODPECKER. 



PLATE LIV. FIGURE I. 



Picus major, .... PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



Picus varius major, . , . RAY. 



ABOUT the end of March, the nidification of these 

 birds commences. 



No nest is formed ; the eggs are laid usually about 

 the middle of May on the dust that lodges at the bottom 

 of the hole, sometimes as much as two feet from the orifice. 

 Scotch fir seems to be preferred, but the oak and others 

 are also made available if a pre-existing hole is adapted 

 to their wants, or, if there be none such, a new one is 

 scooped out of the most unsound part of the tree. 



The eggs are four or five in number, white and glossy, 

 and are hatched after an incubation of about a fortnight. 



The figure is from an egg in the possession of Mr. 

 Smith, of Yarmouth, which was laid by the bird in his 

 pocket, as he was taking it home soon after its capture. 



