62 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



Language. A harsh scream like " chaik." It has 

 certain imitative powers. 



Habits. It shuns mankind, and always seeks conceal- 

 ment among the tree tops. Very active, alert and ex- 

 ceedingly inquisitive if no danger appears to be at hand. 

 When perching it incessantly flirts its tail and erects 

 and depresses its crest. Flight not very rapid and direct. 

 On the ground it hops. 



Food. Worms, spiders, insects, eggs, young birds, 

 &c. In winter, berries, &c. Practically omnivorous. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. At the top of some thick bush, in fork of sapling 

 or small tree. 



Materials. Sticks, twigs, and roots, lined with dry 

 grass, rootlets, and a little hair. Cup well shaped. 



Eggs. Four to seven. Pale green or greenish blue, 

 thickly mottled with olive-brown. Usually a black, 

 irregular line at the large end. 



GREEN WOODPECKER (Gecinus viridis). 



Generally distributed, though rather local ; rarer 

 further north, and very rare in Ireland. 



Haunts. Well-wooded districts. 



Plumage. Upper parts olive-green. Crown of head 

 and moustachial streak bright carmine ; sides of face 

 black. Wings smoky brown, with outer webs of pri- 

 maries barred with white and blackish. Rump 3^ellowish, 

 conspicuous in flight, under parts greyish green. Bill 

 slaty black, and rather long. Tail-feathers stiff and 

 pointed. Legs slate-grey. Length 13 in. Female, no 

 carmine on the cheeks, but black. Young, under parts 

 barred, no black lores. Cheeks spotted with carmine in 

 the male and pale brown in the female. 



Language. A ringing kind of laugh, like " plui-plui- 

 plui." 



Habits. Like all Woodpeckers, it is practically a 



