MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 63 



one individual found by me in the market of Pisa, and Savi has 

 one from the plantations of S. Fiora, and one from the Vale of 

 Cecina. Althammer and Perini say that it is rare in the Tyrol and 

 Veronese. According to Monti it is not often seen in Comasco. 

 Eisso says it is stationary upon the Maritime Alps. It is not found 

 in Malta and Sardinia, and probably is equally unknown in Sicily. 

 As I have verified, the P. medius of Mina and Doderlein is no other 

 than the young of P. major, which at that age has, like P. medius, 

 the red vertex, which leads those who are not well cognizant of the 

 distinctive characters easily to confound it with the other." 



This species has been thought by some ornithologists to be the 

 young or only a variety of Picus major. But they are very distinct 

 both in ornamentation and habits. 



The female has the occiput and vertex red, as well as the male, 

 which is not the case with P. major. P. medius never remains long 

 in pine woods, where P. major loves to dwell. It is a more active 

 bird, and will adroitly avoid any dispute leading to a fight with that 

 bird; but it will give battle to one of its own species. Its voice is 

 similar, but its call-note weaker. 



The Middle Spotted Woodpecker dwells among the thickest foliage 

 of the highest trees, particularly oaks, elms, and aspens. It is not 

 often found on the ground, but like its congeners is generally seen 

 scaling trees, which it will ascend to the top bough and perch there. 

 Its habitation is in the highest hole it can find, and it will continue 

 to use the same tree for years if not driven away. It is a most 

 assiduous ''tapper,^' and may often be seen on the under side of a 

 decayed bough working away; the entrance hole turned towards the 

 ground. 



It is a very handsome bird, perhaps the most so of all the European 

 Woodpeckers. It is restless but not shy, and in pairing and breeding 

 seasons very incautious. It can make good use of its legs in hopping 

 on the ground, or from branch to branch. It has a whirring wavy 

 flight, and appears on the wing a slenderer bird than its ally the 

 Greater Spotted. 



Naumann says that this bird will feed not only on insects but also 

 upon many tree-seeds, and to assist in digesting them it may be seen 

 picking up particles of gravel at the base of the tree. It is not 

 content with the insects it finds under the bark, but will split off 

 entire pieces, and crush the rotten wood beneath into holes, in its 

 search for wood-feeding larv^, such as Sirex, Cerambyx, Bostrychiis, 

 Forficida, etc. It never seems to suifer for want of food during the 

 Avinter; it is generally in good condition, but never fat. It is very 



