98 SCANSORES. 



From a note in Mr. Thompson's work, furnished by Mr. 

 Eobert Montgomery, another is stated to have been captured 

 by a gamekeeper in the county of Longford, in the presence 

 of Drs. Gordon and Edgeworth. 



It is a matter of regret that our Fauna does not reckon at 

 least one resident species of this family, as few birds look 

 to more advantage than this very beautiful woodpecker, with 

 its bright and varied colours of black, crimson, green, and 

 yellow. 



The call-note of this species is exceedingly loud and shrill ; 

 and, as remarked by Jardine, when heard in a retired and 

 lonesome place for the first time, the bird being unseen, it 

 strikes the hearer as most remarkable and startling. 



That the woodpecker was known to the ancients we have 

 abundant testimony, as the elder Pliny has referred to it as 

 a common species ; and by Aristotle it was remarked as never 

 perching upon the ground, but striking lustily at the oak- 

 tree to rouse the worm and insect to emerge from their con- 

 cealment. 



Habitat Western Europe. 



GENUS XLVIII. CERTHIA (CREEPER). 

 SPECIES 97 THE CREEPER. 



Certhia familiaris. Linn. 

 Grimpereau familier. Temm. 



Woodpecker. Tomtit. 



THIS elegantly shaped and delicate little species is met with 

 in favourite localities, and occurs all over the island wherever 

 there is sufficient plantation or wood to afford it shelter and 

 food. 



Its habits 



" To him who muses through the woods at noon," 



are, perhaps, as full of interest as those of the majority of our 

 smaller birds. Resembling, as it does, the woodpecker in its 

 scansorial powers, we are always gratified by observing its 

 motions. Tame and familiar as it is harmless, we can often 

 approach within a few paces and watch its interesting habits. 

 Glancing past us with a rapid wavering flight, it alights on 

 the base of some rough, uneven oak, and, jerking from side to 

 side, works its way up, occasionally enlivening the journey 

 with its low, weak, sibilous cry. Chancing to observe an in- 

 truder on its solitude, we see an instant gleam of its silvery 

 and satin -white breast as it passes round to the opposite side 



