158 THE LESSEE SPOTTED WOODPECKEE. 



head in very quick motion while moving about the tree for food, 

 jarring the bark, and shaking it at the time it is seeking for in- 

 sects." 



59. THE MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 

 Pious Mediiis, LIN. Pic varie a tete rouye, BTJF. Der Weisspecht, BECH. 



Description. This bird resembles the former in almost 

 every respect, except that it is a little smaller. The beak is 

 smaller, far thinner, and very pointed. The top of the head 

 is crimson, and the vent rose-coloured. 



Observations. It is less common than the larger species, 

 and the young, though not very tractable, are yet more docile 

 Like the preceding, this bird may be kept in a cage, ana 

 confined by a light chain. 



60. THE LESSEE SPOTTED WOODPECKEE. 

 Picus minor, LIN. Petit Epeiche, BUF. Der Grasspecht, BECH. 



Description. This bird, about the size of a Lark, is five 

 inches and a half in length, of which the tail measures two 

 inches. The folded wings extend to the middle of the tail. 

 The beak is seven lines long, and greenish black : the feet are 

 of the same colour. The rump is white ; the head crimson at 

 the top, and black at the back. The back is white, with 

 blackish transverse stripes. The under part of the body is 

 red, greyish and white, marked on the sides with a few black 

 streaks. 



The female has no red on the head. 



Observations. This is a rare bird ; it is an inhabitant of the 

 woods, and lives on the insects which it picks from the bark 

 and moss of trees. It may sometimes also be seen hopping 

 among the grass, in search of insects. The young birds, which 

 are to be reared, must be kept in the cage. 



ADDITIONAL. MACGILLIVEAY, who confesses that he is in- 

 debted to the earlier volumes of London's Magazine of Natural 

 History for the information here given, thus remarks upon this 

 bird, which he calls the Striated Woodpecker : " This species, 

 which is said to be more abundant in the northern parts of 

 Europe than in France and Germany, has not hitherto been met 

 with in Scotland, or even in many parts of England, although it 

 occurs in most of the southern, eastern, and midland counties, 

 extending as far north as Derby, and westward to Shrewsbury 



