254 Picidce. 



104. LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Picus minor). 



More common, at all events of late years, but exactly re- 

 sembling the last, except in point of size, being not quite six 

 inches in length, this species occasionally visits us. It is of a 

 very retiring disposition, and prefers the upper branches of trees 

 to the trunk and more exposed limbs, and creeps out of sight 

 behind some friendly bough the instant it perceives an intruder. 

 From the observations of various authors one would say that 

 Wiltshire was the favourite locality of this bird. Selby says ' it 

 is well known in the counties of Gloucester and Wilts.' Montagu 

 mentions how he observed it in Wiltshire, and found its nest and 

 took its eggs there. Yarrell speaks of Wiltshire as one of its 

 habitations, in addition to which I have notices of its having 

 been killed within the last few years at Potterne, Round way, 

 Devizes, Clarendon Park and Dray cot Woods ; and Mr. Elgar 

 Sloper says, ' I have obtained three specimens of this beautiful 

 little bird: one caught near Devizes in June, 1840, lived for 

 some time in confinement, fed on insects and bread and milk.' 

 More recently, I have heard of it as shot at Collingbourne. Mr. 

 Grant mentions several from Devizes, Wedhampton, Wilsford, 

 Potterne, and Keevil; and Mr. A. B. Fisher writes that he 

 watched it in his garden at Potterne, in December, 1885 ; and 

 Mr. Gwatkin, that it breeds regularly at the Manor House in the 

 same parish. The Rev. E. Goddard saw it in the garden at 

 Hilmarton Vicarage, in 1873, and reports others seen in that 

 parish. Mr. G. Watson Taylor says it is common at Erlestoke, 

 and the Marlborough College Natural History Reports repeatedly 

 mention the appearance of young as well as old birds in 

 Savernake Forest, where they regularly breed, and which should 

 be a very paradise for the whole Woodpecker family. In south 

 Wilts, Mr. W. Wyndham says it is common at Dinton ; Lord 

 Arundell, that it is found at Wardour ; and Lord Heytesbury, 

 that it occurs at Heytesbury ; while the Rev. A. P. Morres pro- 

 nounces it not at all uncommon in his neighbourhood, and gives 

 instances to show that sometimes it is quite abundant there. 



