96 SCANSORES. 



FAMILY XVL SCANSORES (CLIMBERS). 



GENUS XLVII PICID.E (WOODPECKERS). 



SPECIES 94 THE GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 

 Picus major. Linn. 

 Pic epeiche. Temm. 



THIS handsome species is of very unusual occurrence, having 

 only been obtained in fifteen or twenty instances in various 

 localities over the island. 



In no instance having the pleasure of observing its habits in 

 Ireland, it came under our notice in several parts of England ; 

 and, during the summer of 1851, we had the satisfaction of 

 observing it and the hoopoe in the forest of Fontainbleau. 



From the stomachs of several which we had the pleasure of 

 examining with our friend Mr. Glennon, the contents, in all 

 cases, were minute worms and larvae, which had probably in- 

 fested some tree. 



When observed wild, the motions and attitudes of this bird 

 are remarkably elegant. Glancing rapidly through the glades 

 of the forest, it flies directly towards some old time-decayed 

 tree, and, alighting near the base, ascends, its stiff tail held 

 closely in, and its ascent made with a hurried, impatient, jerk- 

 ing motion, tapping with the bill rather loudly on the bark 

 in search of some decayed portion, where its favourite food 

 is always found in abundance. 



The breeding place generally selected is a hollow in some old 

 tree. The eggs are very beautiful, of a pure satin -white 

 colour, and are seen collected in great numbers in Paris to 

 supply the various dealers in oology who require them. 



Habitat Western Europe. 



SPECIES 95 THE LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 



Picus minor. Linn. 

 Pic epeichette. Temm. 



THIS species, more rare in occurrence than the preceding, 

 appears only to have been obtained in six or seven instances, 

 all of which came under the critical observation of Mr. Ri- 

 chard Glennon in a recent state. Of these specimens the two 

 last in occurrence we had the pleasure of examining, one an 

 adult male, obtained on the 21st September, 1848, in the 



