58 WHITE-BUMPED WOODPEGKEB. 



In Germany tlie White-rumped Woodpecker is botli migratoiy and 

 stationary. In the late autumn or winter it is found in the great 

 forests, and comes tlience into the neighbourhood of houses, fruit 

 gardens, villages, or even towns, where it dwells very confidingly. 



On the wing it is very like our Greater Spotted Woodpecker, and 

 its voice differs but little from that of any of its allied species. It 

 feeds upon insects found under the bark, maggots, caterpillars, and other 

 larvae. Like the Grey Woodpecker it is also very fond of ants and 

 their eggs. Naumann says that one was shot in Silesia which was 

 supposed to have been killing the bees from the hive, but, as none 

 of these insects were found in the stomach, we may, I think, fairly 

 enter a verdict of "not guilty" on this count. 



The White-rumped Woodpecker builds, like its congener, in the holes 

 of trees, particularly oaks. It lays four or five clear white shining 

 eggs. 



Although I have specimens kindly sent me by Mr. Wheelwright, I 

 will let that gentleman speak for himself, as his description is drawn up 

 from birds recently killed. Male; length ten inches and three quarters; 

 expanse of wing seventeen inches; tail beyond the wings. Head above, 

 carmine red; forehead white, with a brown tinge. Around, and at 

 the back of the eyes, a large white spot, and another below on the 

 sides of the neck; throat Avhite. From the under mandible a black 

 streak extends backwards under the eyes, and becoming broader at the 

 back of the ears, passes down the sides of the throat to the breast. 

 Breast white, with a greenish yellow tinge, and having, as well as 

 the flanks, longitudinal streaks of black; belly and under tail coverts 

 red. Neck above, top of back, and lesser wing coverts glossy black; 

 the middle and lower part of back white; outer half of greater wing 

 coverts white; the secondaries transversely barred with black and white, 

 which arises from a series of white round spots, placed on the edges 

 of each web at regular intervals, a similar effect being j)roduced by 

 the same means on the primaries, giving a barred appearance to the 

 whole wing when closed. The first prima,ry is about the same length 

 as the sixth, and both are much shorter than the intervening four. 

 Upper tail feathers and coverts coal black; the under ones cream- 

 colour, barred with black, and becoming rufous at the tip. Iris nut 

 brown; beak horn blue; legs lead grey. 



The female has the head glossy black above; forehead white, tinged 

 with rusty brown. The rest like the male, but more dull. The colours 

 of both, especially the male, brighter with age. 



My figures of this bird and its egg are from specimens sent me by 

 Mr. Wheelwright from Sweden. 



