" It is found here, and is a resident, but is rare and widely diffused. It nests on the 

 Leisberg and in the Stadtwald, and generally lays four eggs. If these are taken away time 

 after time, the bird still continues to lay in the plundered nest-hole, and, in spite of being 

 continually molested, uses it (contrary to the habits of other Woodpeckers) several successive 

 years. At Neustadt, in Krain, eighteen eggs were taken from the same female from time to 

 time out of two nest-holes, which it made use of at the same time by turns ; and even after that 

 it bored another one the same year and hatched three young ones." 



Dr. Finsch considers it rare in Bulgaria ; and Messrs. Elwes and Buckley, in their paper on 

 the birds of Turkey, write : — 



" Found in the forests of Bulgaria, but nowhere numerous. We shot one in rather open 

 country near Rassova, where only a few stunted oaks were found in the valleys. There can be 

 no doubt that the pine-forests of the Balkan are a favourite resort of this bird ; but we never saw 

 or heard it in Macedonia." 



In his paper on the birds of the Ionian Islands, Lord Lilford writes : — 



" I saw two specimens of this Woodpecker at Santa Maura, which I was assured had been 

 killed on the Black Mountain of Cephalonia. I caught a glimpse of a bird which I believe to 

 have been one of this species, in a wood near the mouth of the river Drin, in December 1857." 



Lindermayer says it is found in some of the higher mountain-ranges in Greece ; and Von der 

 Miihle, in the forests of Boumelia. 



Mr. Strickland, in his list of birds observed in Asia Minor, says : — " I saw a specimen of this 

 bird in the possession of Mr. Zohrab, at Broussa. It was shot in the pine-forests of Mount 

 Olympus." 



Mr. Robson writes to us as follows : — 



" This species is not uncommon in Turkey in Europe and Asia Minor, inhabiting the dense 

 old forests. Their principal haunts in the latter country are near Iniboli, Castamboul, Ismidt, 

 Mount Olympus, &c. ; they are also shot near Parryville, in Europe. Some of the specimens are 

 of a deep black raven-colour ; others are tinged with a rusty brown, due probably to age. They 

 feed much on the large larvae of beetles, also grubs and beetles found in old trees. The skins of 

 Woodpeckers are firmly attached to the flesh, especially on the lower back and legs. This 

 peculiarity is most strongly exhibited in the present species, which, while resting on their hinder 

 parts cleaving the bark with their strong head and bill in search of food, have a powerful 

 leverage in their extremities. The sound of their bills can be heard at a great distance." 



Professor von Nordmann states that it is " rare in the southern provinces of the Black Sea. 

 It inhabits Volhynia and Podolia, and from time to time occurs in the north of Bessarabia. In 

 1836 I saw it on the mountains of Ghouriel." 



Lehmann also obtained it on his journey to Bokhara ; and Dybowski and Parrex say that it is a 

 common bird in Dauria. Radde writes as follows : — " Observed everywhere in the forests of South 

 Siberia. At from 4000 to 5000 feet above the sea it becomes rare, and is not found in the region of 

 the boundary of tree-vegetation, though P. major and P. minor are found here. It is a resident." 



Dr. Middendorff likewise observes : — " I lost sight of it on the Jenesei, north of 62° north lat. 

 It was common, however, in the Stanowoi mountains, and abundant at all seasons, also on the 

 southern slope of the boundary mountains in Mantschuria." 



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