THE WOODPECKERS. 343 



in the winter time, and that not every year. In Denmark 

 it is spoken of as scarce, 



The Hvit-ryggig Hackspett, or White-backed Woodpecker 

 (P. leuconotus, Bechst.). This bird, which is believed to be 

 pretty much confined to certain localities, is found over a 

 considerable portion of Scandinavia ; but it would seem to be 

 somewhat scarce everywhere, though less so in the more 

 northern parts of the peninsula than in the southern. During 

 the summer, Nilsson tells us, it is for the most part met 

 with in pairs, but in the autumn and winter in flocks. It is 

 not included in the Danish fauna. 



The Three-toed Woodpecker (Tre-tdig Hackspett, Sw. ; 

 P. tridactylus, Linn.) was scarce with us. It was at one 

 time looked upon as a sort of rarity in Scandinavia, but is 

 now found to be pretty generally distributed. It is much 

 more plentiful in the more northern portion of the peninsula 

 where it is found in all the Barr-skogar, as high up nearly as 

 the Icy Sea than in the southern. It is far from un- 

 common in the Wermeland forests ; but less observed from 

 its seldom uttering any cry, and from confining itself to the 

 thickest part of the wood. Its top-knot that of the male at 

 least instead of being red, as is the case with most other 

 woodpeckers, is yellow. It has only been met with in one 

 instance in Denmark. 



It is said to breed in a hollow tree, and that the eggs, four 

 to five in number, are white and glossy. 



The Middle Woodpecker of Pennant (Mellanspett, Sw. ; 

 P. medius, Linn.) is confined, Swedish naturalists tell us, to 

 the more southern portion of Scandinavia. It forms its nest 

 in the hollow of a tree, and lays from four to five glossy 

 eggs of a spotless white. It is not uncommon in Denmark. 





