366 t BRITISH BIRDS. 



progresses, how completely it is at home, in all kinds of positions, and 

 how useful its stiff pointed tail-feathers are in supporting it whilst it is 

 hammering away at some promising chink. It rarely, if ever, runs head 

 downwards, like the Nuthatch. Where ants abound the Green Wood- 

 pecker may often be observed upon the ground searching the ant-hills for 

 food. With its strong beak it scatters the loose mould to unearth the 

 busy colony, its tongue is shot out with marvellous speed, and the ants 

 and their eggs are consumed in great quantities. On the ground it does 

 not always confine its attention to ant-hills, but sometimes digs quite a 

 considerable hole in the earth, baring the buried bark of a tree-stump, in 

 search of insects. It can walk and hop, though it appears to do both 

 clumsily, in consequence of the shortness of its legs. The Green Wood- 

 pecker, like the rest of its tribe, is a shy and solitary bird, and even a 

 pair are rarely seen together, except in the breeding-season. It is only by 

 using extreme caution that its habits may be observed, and it always tries 

 as much as possible to search that part of the tree furthest away from the 

 observer. There can be no doubt that it frequently produces the jarring 

 sound, which some naturalists assert is for the purpose of disturbing its 

 insect food, but which is more likely a signal between the sexes. It is 

 produced by the rapid beating of the bark or branch with its stout bill ; 

 and Sterland says that he has seen it place its bill in a long rent or crack, 

 and by a rapid motion of its head make a sound as if the tree were being 

 torn asunder, and so loud as to. make the forest ring again. 



The food of the Green Woodpecker is chiefly composed of insects, espe- 

 cially ants and their larvae. Naumann says that the bird sometimes visits 

 the newly mown fields in search of food, and that it occasionally attacks a 

 wasps' nest in order to prey upon the grubs. He also says that it feeds 

 on acorns, and other observers state that it frequently cracks hazel-nuts 

 and even catches bees. The usual note of this bird, which is uttered 

 most frequently in spring and early summer, is a loud and clear kyu, 

 kyu, kyu, so rapidly repeated as to bear a great resemblance to a hearty 

 laugh. Its loud cries have been said to prognosticate rain ; and in many 

 districts the Green Woodpecker is known as the " Rain-bird;" whilst its 

 singular note has gained for it the name of " Yaffle " in some counties. 

 When alarmed the note of this bird is somewhat modulated, and resembles 

 perhaps less a laugh than a scream. 



It is probable that the Green Woodpecker pairs for life, and in some 

 cases the old hole is used for many years in succession. As a rule, however, 

 the birds prefer to make a new hole every spring, leaving the old ones to 

 be used for the rest of the year as roosting-places, or to be annexed by 

 Starlings, Redstarts, or Tits. Occasionally, before the Woodpecker has 

 quite completed its chamber, it is taken possession of by a pair of Starlings, 

 when the rightful owners in an unguarded moment have left it for a short 



