44 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xv. 



HOUSE-SPARROWS ATTACKING LESSER SPOTTED 

 WOODPECKERS. 



The occurrence of Sparrows attacking the nest of the Lesser 

 Spotted Woodpecker {Dryohates minor comminutus) may be 

 of interest. The nest hole is in the dead branch of an apple 

 tree in a friend's garden ; the branch curves outwardly, and 

 the hole being on the outer side is protected by the curve. 

 On June 4th, 1921, I watched the old birds feeding the young 

 for about an hour or an hour and a quarter, during which 

 time they were fed fifteen times, the male coming six times 

 and the female nine times. On June 9th, I heard from 

 my friend, " You will be sorry to hear that the W^oodpecker's 

 nest has met with disaster. Yesterday a pair of Sparrows 

 attacked it — when the cock Woodpecker came to the nest the 

 Sparrows drove him off. I picked up two young Woodpeckers 

 dead under the nest, badly pecked on head and back. I shot 

 one of the Sparrows, but it was then too late." Now what 

 could be the object of the Sparrows in making this attack ? 

 — I don't imagine the nesting hole of the Lesser Spotted 

 Woodpecker would be any use for Passer domesticiis to 

 nest in. 



B. D'O. Aplin. 



HABrrS OF THE CUCKOO. 



As considerable attention has been drawn to the habits of 

 the Cuckoo {Cuculus c. canorus) of late, I find amongst some 

 notes I have made at different times on this bird the following, 

 which may be worth recording, as I believe they have been 

 the subject of some controversy. 



June 5th, 1869. — " When chasing a young Cuckoo, an old 

 Cuckoo flew at me several times ; it made a cry like the young 

 Cuckoo's call for food." I have never heard an old Cuckoo 

 make the same noise since. I remember the circumstance 

 perfectly well, even at this length of time, and recollect I was 

 much more impressed with the curious unCuckoo-like note 

 than with the fact of the old Cuckoo resenting my interference 

 with a young one. 



July ist, 1877. — " A Cuckoo flew past me calling ' Cuckoo,' 

 as it passed it ' bubbled.' This is very late in the season 

 to call." 



Since then I, and doubtless many others, have heard and 

 seen a Cuckoo give both calls, but I do not remember to have 

 seen it recorded. 



E. G. B. Meade-Waldo. 



