GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 355 



Archangel, and was obtained by Hoffmann in the Ural Mountains as far 

 north as lat. 63^. In West Siberia, Sloffzow obtained it at Omsk in lat. 

 55; Theel obtained it in the valley of the Yenesay as far north as lat. 60; 

 and Middendorff procured it on the Pacific coast of East Siberia in lat. 55. 

 It is a resident in the Canary Islands ; but in North-west ^Africa it is 

 replaced by Picus numidicus, which differs in having more or less scarlet on 

 the breast *. In Egypt there appear to be no Woodpeckers ; but in Pales- 

 tine and Persia P. syriacus occurs, which, besides frequently having traces 

 of scarlet on the breast, differs from the Great Spotted Woodpecker in not 

 having the white on the sides of the head and neck separated into two 

 parts by a black band across the end of the ear-coverts. In Asia Minor 

 both P. syriacus and P. major are found. In the Great Spotted Wood- 

 pecker of the Caucasus the general colour of the underparts is so choco- 

 late-brown that the bird has been separated under the name of P. poelzami. 

 In Turkestan various forms occur between P. syriacus and P. leucopterus, 

 the latter differing from P. major in having the white on the secondaries 

 so much developed that the black is reduced to four spots connected by a 

 broad black shaft-line. In Mongolia and China P. cabanisi and its 

 allies occur, which may be distinguished by their black scapulars. Ex- 

 amples from North Russia and Siberia are larger and much whiter on 

 the underparts than typical examples of P. major from Western Europe, 

 and have been called P. cissa ; but intermediate forms occur both in 

 Scandinavia and the valley of the Amoor. In Japan P.japonicus occurs, 

 in which the white on the innermost secondaries is developed into broad 

 transverse bars. It is probable that none of these forms are more than 

 subspecifically distinct from the Great Spotted Woodpecker. 



The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a somewhat peculiar bird in the 

 choice of a haunt, and often shuns districts apparently well suited to it 

 or frequents others in which we should scarcely expect to find such a 

 species. Due regard being made for its caprice in this respect, we find 

 the Great Spotted or Pied Woodpecker in large woods and old forests, in 

 plantations, both evergreen and deciduous, in fields which are well studded 

 with timber, and contain here and there a clump of trees, in parks, 

 orchards, or amongst the pollard willows by the side of sluggish rivers 

 and large ponds. Like all the Woodpeckers it is rather shy, and is more 

 often heard than seen. It loves to frequent the tops of tall trees, the 

 deepest and secluded parts of its haunt, and generally strives to keep that 

 side of a tree furthest away from the observer. It is not often seen on the 

 ground, and during autumn and winter occasionally wanders far from its 



* Mr. Hargitt informs me that he has a British specimen of the Great Spotted Wood- 

 pecker showing distinct traces of red on the breast, and similar instances have been 

 recorded by continental ornithologists. 



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