n GBEY WOODPECKER. 



also makes a whizzing noise as it sits on a hard branch on the summit 

 of a tree, violently hammering the same, so that the tone is brought 

 out as 'orrrr/ but shorter than the other allied species. This noise is 

 only heard in the bird under consideration during the pairing season, 

 or when the female is sitting. 



The Grey Woodpecker lives principally upon ants, when it can get 

 them. When they fail it eats bark beetles, various larvte, and, rarely, 

 elderberries. Among ants, Formica rubra and fusca are its favourites, 

 and the abundance of these insects generally determines the choice 

 of a summer residence. The young are fed with the eggs or pupae. 

 In summer it lives on no other food, and in winter, it knows where 

 to look for them. 



The nest is formed about the beginning of May, in the holes of 

 trees, especially oak. They are not so careful in the choice of a 

 situation as the Black or Green Woodpecker. It is generally in a 

 tree easy to climb, and not very high up. The eggs are six in 

 number, and very like those of the Green Woodpecker, They are, 

 however, considerably smaller, and more pear-shaped in form. The 

 e^^ shell is of the hnest grain — tender and thin, so that when fresh, 

 the yolks shine through the peculiarly clear and enamel-polished white. 

 This effect is destroyed by incubation. The male and female sit by 

 turns, and are so fearless that they will almost permit themselves to 

 be caught at this time. The young remain a long time in the nest, 

 and are fed by the old ones some time after they leave it. The 

 whole family may be seen flying about the forest together. 



Mr. Wheelwright describes a freshly -killed male as follows :—Fore= 

 head carmine red; a black streak from the nostrils to the eye^ and a 

 similar one on the side of the throat from the under mandible. Head 

 and neck ash grey, with small longitudinal blackish streaks or spots 

 on the crown of the head. Back and wing coverts green; rump 

 shining greenish yellow; all the under parts of the body pale ash 

 grey, with a faint green tinge. Wing feathers dark brown, with 

 transverse white spots on the inner web, and similar, but smaller ones 

 on the outer web. Tail feathers blackish green of one colour, with 

 the exception of the two middle ones, which are marked with indis- 

 tinct transverse bars. Beak thinner than that of P, viridis, bluish 

 brown, having the root of the under mandible greenish yellow. Iris 

 red; legs grey green. Length twelve inches; carpus to tip six inches 

 and one eighth; tail five inches. 



The female has no red on the forehead, which is replaced by small 

 brown spots; the green on the back has an ashy grey tinge. 



The bird figured is a young one of the year, sent me with the 



