THE PIED WOODPECKERS. 7 



than seen, but it may occasionally be detected, as it wends its 

 way from tree to tree with a dipping flight, exposing the yellow 

 of its back as it flies away. It is more often seen near the 

 ground than the two other British Woodpeckers, and it may 

 sometimes be observed flying from one small tree to another 

 in the hedgerows. Another reason for its ground-frequenting 

 habits is that it feeds largely on ants, and commits great havoc 

 among the nests of these industrious little insects. When it 

 alights on a large tree, it generally commences at the bottom, 

 and works its way to the top with great rapidity, though, if the 

 bird be conscious of the proximity of a stranger, it generally 

 keeps to the opposite side of the tree, and its upward progress 

 is marked only by an occasional sight of its head, as it peers 

 round to take a glance at the intruder. It finds much of its 

 food beneath the bark of old trees, and it is therefore gener- 

 ally to be observed in parks and old forests, these being the 

 favourite home of the Green Woodpecker. Its food consists 

 almost entirely of insects, but it is also said to eat nuts and 

 acorns, and occasionally wasps and bees, as well as their grubs. 

 When hammering at the bark of a tree, the bird receives con- 

 siderable support from its stiffened tail-feathers. 



Nest. None. The eggs are laid at the bottom of a hole, 

 hewed by the birds themselves, on the chips of wood accu- 

 mulated during the excavation of the nest-hole. The latter is 

 often situated at but a short distance from the ground, and the 

 circular entrance to the nest is so perfectly made that it might 

 have been executed by an expert carpenter rather than by the 

 bill of a bird. As a rule only hollow trees are attacked, but it 

 is an undoubted fact that occasionally sound trees are attempted, 

 with the result that the Woodpecker has to desist in its effort 

 to bore a nest-hole, and is driven to seek a more rotten tree for 

 its operations. 



Eggs. From five to seven, or even eight, in number. Pure 

 white and glossy in appearance. Axis, 1-25-1-15; diam., 

 o*95 ' S 5- 



THE PIED WOODPECKERS. GENUS DENDROCOPUS. 



DendrocopuS) Koch, Baier. Zool. i. p. 72 (1816). 



Type, D. major (L.). 



Of the Pied Woodpeckers about forty species are known, and 



