PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES :-'i 



juvenile plumage differs from the adult in that the crown of the head is crimson 

 in both aexeo though in young females the crimson area is smaller and in that 

 the black areas of the plumage lack brilliancy, [w. p. p.] 



a. Distribution. Our British local race is confined to Great Britain, where 



.1 m rr.siilenti It i- t"l-r.il>ly .'nrr.il MI .ill \\...>.1.-<1 <li-in. t> ..f lh- -outh.-in .m<l 



midland counties of England, though of course absent from the treeless moorlands 

 and plains ; while in Wales it is commoner than is generally supposed, but is absent 

 from Anglesey. In the northern counties of England it becomes scarce, though 

 increasing in Lakeland; while in Scotland its distribution has fluctuated con- 

 siderably. For details, see J. A. Harvie - Brown, Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1908, 

 p. 209 (with Map) ; W. Evans, I.e., p. 216 ; and British Birds, ii. p. 238, etc. 

 Briefly, it must formerly have bred in some numbers up to the Moray Basin, but 

 gradually disappeared, while of late years a considerable increase in its range has 

 taken place, originating in the south-east, where a few pairs appear to have been 

 always present It has not been known to breed in Ireland. On the Continent 

 of Europe and in Asia it is replaced by various geographical races, one of which, 

 the northern great spotted-woodpecker, D. major major (L.), also visits us on 

 migration. [F. c. R. J.] 



3. Migration. Resident. The birds wander considerably in winter, and 

 alight seasonal movements within our area may possibly exist (cf. Ticehurst, It. of 

 Kent, 1909, p. 234). But the movements across the Irish Sea are probably 

 extensions of the general winter immigrations of the northern great spotted-wood- 

 pecker (q.v.). The two races are so seldom distinguished in the available records, 

 that it is impossible to separate their respective movements with any degree of 

 certainty. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. The nesting-hole, bored in the trunk of a tree in a 

 similar way to that of the green-woodpecker, but on a smaller scale, is usually 

 made at a considerable height When undisturbed, a new hole is frequently bored 

 a foot or so below that of the previous year, and sometimes an old trunk may 

 be seen which is simply riddled with holes. Almost any kind of forest tree is 

 utilised, but the nest is seldom less than 15 or 20 feet from the ground. Whether 

 both sexes take part in excavating the hole, or it is the work of the male bird alone, 

 appears to be uncertain. As in the case of the other members of this family, no 

 nesting material is used, and the 5 or 6, rarely 7 or even 8, eggs are laid on the chips 

 of dead wood at the bottom of the hole. They are glossy white, sometimes with 

 a creamy tinge, and transparent before being blown. Average size of 59 British 



