252 Picidce. 



the animal kingdom by changes in the atmosphere, nor how 

 they indicate such feelings, though that many species are ex- 

 tremely susceptible of such impressions, and that too considerably 

 before man can discern any prospect of change in the weather, 

 admits of no doubt or dispute. Though not abundant anywhere, 

 it is very generally distributed throughout the country, the more 

 wooded parts being of course the most attractive to it, and the 

 most frequented by it. Here, at Old Park, it is not uncommon, 

 and sometimes, but not often, it will pay me a flying visit and 

 examine my plantations and trees at Yatesbury. I once very 

 nearly involved myself in some trouble in Norway, by shooting 

 one of these birds, which I did not then know were objects of 

 superstitious veneration to the simple-minded peasants. But no 

 such indignation was shown when I shot a specimen of the 

 ' Great Black Woodpecker,' for the larger bird had not contrived 

 to attract to itself the love or fear, and consequent protection, 

 which its green-hued cousin, doubtless from belief in some 

 legend, had excited in the Norwegian mind. But to return to 

 Wiltshire, the localities given me of its more frequent occurrence 

 are : Ninety, where the Rev. W. Butt says it is very common, far 

 more than in any other district he ever lived in ; Erlestoke, 

 where Mr. G. Watson Taylor tells me it is common; Corsham 

 Court, where, Lord Methuen writes, it has had a nest on the lawn 

 as long as he can remember ; Heytesbury, where it comes every 

 spring, as I learn through Lord Heytesbury ; Market Lavington, 

 where Mr. Bouverie tells me its laughing cry was heard near the 

 house all last autumn ; Wardour, as I learn from Lord Arundell ; 

 Baynton, as I am told by Mr. W. Stancomb, jun. ; and Monkton 

 Farley, as Sir C. Hobhouse informs me. The continental names 

 for this bird are generally, as with us, mere translations of Picus 

 viridis; thus in France it is Pic vert; in Germany, Grunspecht ; 

 in Italy, Picchio verde ; in Portugal, Pica-pan verde ; in Sweden, 

 Gron Hackspett. But in Spain it is Pito real, ' Royal (or great) 

 Woodpecker ;' and provincially, Caiyintero, ' the Carpenter/ 

 from the chips it throws about in making its nest. 



