OF XORTHTTMBEBLAIfD AND BUEHAM. 23 



birds and eggs, tliat lie fired at an Eagle Owl on the "links," 

 neax E'ortli Sunderland, in October, 1872. He states that "it 

 soared a great height after I fired, then descended to a rock on 

 the beach : it again rose and fiew at a great elevation, mostly in 

 circles, away to the Fame Islands." 



Order. II. PASSEKES, Lintmus. 



Family. PICID^, Vic/ors. 



19. PICUS, Linnceus. 



1. Greater Spotted Woodpecker. P. major, LimiCRm. 



Picus major, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, I., 278. 

 „ „ Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Bii-ds, Ed. 2, II., 148. 



There are eight entries of the capture of this species in my 

 journal between the years 1830 and 1868. This species appears 

 to be commoner than the Green Woodpecker. Mr. William 

 Dinning infonns me that a nest of the Greater Spotted Wood- 

 pecker was taken at Swallowship, near Hexham, in an old willow 

 stump, in June, 1868 : two of the eggs are in his collection, and 

 one in mine. This is the only instance with which I am ac- 

 quainted of its breeding in the north of England : it must there- 

 fore be placed along with the residents, though it is usually an 

 autumn or winter migrant. 



2. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. P. minor, LinncBUS. 



Picus minor, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, I., 280. 

 ,, „ Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, II., 154. 



An example of this rare casual visitant was shot upwards of 

 forty years ago at Gosforth, near JiTewcastle, and is in my pos- 

 session. 



In Mr. Selby's catalogue it is stated that "a specimen was 

 some time ago killed at WaUsend." In Wallis's History of 

 l^orthiimberland, one is recorded as having been shot in Dilston 

 Park. 



