324 THE WOODPECKERS 



in the adult ; and the female also has more or less crimson on the crown, but confined 

 to the forepart, therein differing conspicuously from the adult female. The rest of 

 the plumage differs from the adult only in that the black of the upper parts is duller, 

 while the under parts are of a dull buff, and the striations are blurred brown instead 

 of black, and formed by short instead of long streaks, [w. p. P.] 



2. Distribution. Our British race of this species, Dendrocopus minor 

 comminutus, Hartert, is confined practically to England and Wales. It is a 

 fairly common resident in the southern counties, especially in the Thames valley, 

 but becomes scarce in the north midlands, and is decidedly local in Wales. 

 It nests regularly in small numbers in Yorkshire, but seems to be of rare or 

 only casual occurrence in the other northern counties of England and on the 

 southern border of Scotland. The statements of its occurrence in Ireland require 

 corroboration. On the greater part of the European continent, as well as in 

 temperate Asia and the Azores, it is replaced by several other geographical races, 

 which are to some extent migratory. [F. c. R. J.] 



3. Migration. Resident : and apparently quite non-migratory apart from 

 the mere local wanderings which occur in autumn (cf. Ticehurst, B. of Kent, 1909, 

 p. 235). Outside its breeding-area the species only occurs very exceptionally, but 

 there are a few records from Ireland and from the south of Scotland (cf. Ussher 

 and Warren, B. of Ireland, 1900, p. 109 ; Gladstone, B. of Dumfriesshire, 1910, 

 p. 161, etc.). [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Like the other woodpeckers, this species bores a 

 hole in some species of tree poplars, willows, oaks, chestnuts, birches, hollies, 

 elders, whitethorns, or old apple-trees but generally chooses a spot where the 

 wood is decayed and easy to work. The height above the ground is very variable, 

 sometimes 30 to 40 feet high, and again sometimes only a few feet up. Chips are 

 generally left below the nest-hole, which is small, and neatly rounded, 1J in. in 

 diameter. The work of excavation is said to be performed by the male only. The 

 eggs are white, 4-7 in number, thin-shelled, and more transparent and ivory-like 

 in texture than those of the wryneck. They are said also to have a slight creamy 

 tinge. Average size of 51 British eggs, '73 x -56 in. [18*57 x 14-25 mm.]. The 

 breeding season begins about May 12, but fresh eggs may be found till early in 

 June. Naumann states that both sexes of the Continental form take part in 

 incubation, which lasts 14 days. Only one brood is reared in the season. [F. c. R. J.] 



5. Food. Feeds entirely on insects of various kinds. Young fed by both 

 parents on insects brought in the beak. [w. p. P.] 



