142 PICID^E. 



atmosphere, we can easily understand that birds, entirely 

 covered as they are with feathers, which are known to 

 be readily affected by electricity, should be susceptible 

 of certain impressions, which are indicated by particular 

 actions : thus birds, and other animals,* covered only 

 with the production of their highly sensible skin, become 

 living barometers to good observers. The Green Wood- 

 pecker is one of the earliest birds to retire to rest in the 

 afternoon. 



I have occasionally, in the History of our Fishes and 

 Birds, endeavoured to give the explanation or derivation of 

 some of the names applied to our British species, and it is 

 hoped that such attempts, though sometimes unsuccessful, 

 may yet be acceptable, and even useful. The various 

 names by which our Green Woodpecker is known in diffe- 

 rent parts of this country invite observation. 



Wood-spite, which I have also seen spelled, Wood- 

 speight, if not intended for our English words, wood, 

 and spite ; the first syllable is derived from woad, in refer- 

 ence to the green colour of the bird, and the second syllable 

 is derived from the German word " specht," a Wood- 

 pecker : Griinspecht is in Germany the name of our Green 

 Woodpecker. 



Rain-bird has been already noticed. Wallis, in his His- 

 tory of Northumberland, observes that it is called by the 

 common people Bain-fowl, from its being more loud and 

 noisy before rain. The Romans called them Pluvite aves for 

 the same reason. 



* Mr. Scrope, in his excellent book on the "Art of Deer- stalking," says, 

 " The Deer, like many other animals, seem to foresee every change of weather ; 

 at the approach of a storm they leave the higher hills, and descend to the low 

 grounds, sometimes even two days before the change takes place. Again, at the 

 approach of a thaw, they leave the low grounds, and go to the mountains by a 

 similar anticipation of change." 



