458 



distribution in England is, as will presently be more fully 

 shewn, by no means general, while it occurs very rarely in 

 Scotland or Ireland. It frequents wooded districts, and is 

 commonly seen passing with an easy and undulating flight 

 from one tree to another, nearly always alighting, after a 

 deeper sweep than the preceding, on the lower side of a 

 bough or near the bottom of the trunk, often but a foot from 

 the ground, whence it climbs upwards in an oblique direction, 

 partly supporting itself by the stiff pointed feathers of its 

 tail, moving by starts, and if possible keeping the tree 

 between the observer and itself. Arrived near the top, it 

 will fly off, either returning to the lower part of the same 

 tree by a short circuit, or settling upon another, but in 

 either case to renew its movements in the same way.* 

 Clinging to the more or less vertical bole, or larger limbs, it 

 examines, as it goes, the crevices of the bark for the insects 

 on which it feeds ; on some trees occasionally knocking off, 

 with a few taps of its powerful beak, a bit of bark to discover 

 any that may be lodged beneath. 



Insects of many, sorts, often in their larval stage, but 

 especially the timber-haunting beetles, and spiders as well, 

 form the chief food of this Woodpecker for the greater part 

 of the year ; but in summer it preys largely upon ants, and 

 may then be often seen on the ground, where it maintains a 

 curiously upright attitude as it sits, or moves over the grass, 

 with a series of rapid but short hops, from one ant-hill to 

 another. Here it industriously turns over the ground with 

 its beak, spending often several minutes upon each nest and, 

 returning to the spot at intervals throughout the day, bores 

 conical pits (Zool. p. 2431) in the soil and secures the 

 insects as they fall down the sides. Examples obtained 

 at this time of year generally shew by the earth sticking to 

 their beak how they have been engaged. The bird is also 

 said to be an enemy to bees, and several authors concur in 

 stating that it will crack hazel-nuts and eat acorns. 



* Selby says he had repeatedly seen it descend trees by moving backward. 

 The Editor has not been so fortunate, though he thinks he must have enjoyed 

 more frequent opportunities of observing the bird. 



