356 BRITISH BIRDS. 



breeding-place. A pair of birds or a solitary individual will sometimes 

 take up their quarters in a little plantation or an extensive shrubbery, 

 remaining there for months, but disappearing as soon as the spring arrives. 

 In this manner it will often enter gardens and orchards or pleasure-grounds 

 far from its usual haunts, doubtless tempted to them by some favourite 

 food. It is of a solitary, shy, and retiring disposition, and seldom more 

 than a pair are seen in one locality, more often only a solitary bird. 



It is an interesting sight to watch the Great Spotted Woodpecker at 

 work on some large tree, especially in winter, when the leaves are off the 

 branches and most of the bird's movements can be observed. Sometimes 

 it commences operations at the foot of the tree, beginning its search 

 close to the ground, climbing about in every direction, tapping here and 

 there, pausing a second or so now and then, and frequently running out 

 on to the larger limbs, working round and round them in busy search for 

 the myriads of insects lurking beneath the loose bark and in its crevices. 

 Sometimes it turns round and with head downward creeps back a little 

 way, then runs rapidly to the right or left, disappearing behind the trunk, 

 and again coming into view some distance higher up. During this minute 

 search the bird scarcely ever utters a sound, the only noise to be heard is 

 the sharp taps of the bill against the tree from time to time as fresh prey 

 is dislodged or searched for. After remaining some time on one tree, if 

 not previously disturbed, it passes on to another, sometimes in straight- 

 forward rapid flight, but more often in a drooping desultory manner. 

 It may often be observed in the slender topmost branches of a tree, and 

 even perches crosswise on the twigs like one of the true Passeres. From 

 tree to tree is the search eagerly pursued, and long after the interesting 

 bird has passed from view its loud tapping or startling call may be 

 heard. 



The note of the Great Spotted Woodpecker is a sharply uttered chik or 

 chink, given forth at intervals. It has also another cry which is said to 

 resemble the syllable tra. The attention of the listener is most often 

 arrested by the sound of the bird tapping with its bill on the trunks of 

 the trees, which when they are hollow resound to such an extent that it 

 can be heard at a great distance. Sometimes the taps succeed each 

 other so rapidly that they form a harsh trill. This rapid tapping appears 

 to be used as a signal between the sexes, and is common to both, and 

 takes the place of a vocal note. It has been suggested that this startling 

 whirr was made to frighten out the insects lurking beneath the bark ; but 

 this theory is not supported by any evidence. This noise is often made 

 when the sitting bird is frightened off the nest, and is generally answered 

 by its mate with a similar one. 



The food of the Great Spotted Woodpecker is very varied, but consists 

 principally of insects in their various stages of growth. It feeds on the 



