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numerous there as the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Picus minor). Many a time, however, in 

 the spring of 1871, while driving in my sledge over the snow, I saw this pretty bird climbing up 

 the tall firs, and flying from tree to tree ; and in the early morning, when the sun was just 

 peeping over the mountains, the tapping of the Woodpecker was often the only sound which 

 broke the stillness of those grand forest-solitudes, the like of which are to be found in no part of 

 Europe, excepting old Norway." 



Wheelwright found it rare in Lapland ; and Schrader says it is only occasional in the conifer 

 woods of that country. Von Wright states that it is the commonest Woodpecker in Finland ; 

 and Dresser, who spent some time in Finland, can fully indorse this statement. They do not, 

 however, appear to be so numerous in the north as they are in the southern parts of this country. 

 The Finnish name for Woodpecker, Tikka, is derived from the sharp call-note of this bird, which 

 resembles the work tick. 



Pallas says it is found commonly throughout all Russia and Siberia in the woods, preferring 

 especially those of larch and pine. Radde also states that it is the commonest of the Wood- 

 peckers in Siberia. Messrs. Dybowski and Parrex found it abundant in larch and pine woods in 

 Dauria; and Dr. von Middendorff shot it to the north of Jenesejsk and in the neighbourhood of 

 Udskoj-Ostrog during his journey in Siberia. Schrenck found the Great Spotted Woodpecker 

 common throughout the Amoor country at all seasons of the year, and says that he never 

 observed it so abundantly in conifer as in non-evergreen groves, and noticed it particularly on 

 the willow-covered islands of the Amoor river. In Saghalien it is also common, both in the 

 conifer woods and the groves of mixed conifer and non-evergreen trees, and those of aspen, birch, 

 and willow. He adds, " Six specimens brought from the Amoor by Radde agree precisely in 

 colour and markings with the European bird." Mr. Whitely and Captain Blakiston obtained it 

 in Japan ; and it was likewise procured at Hakodadi during Commodore Perry's expedition. 

 The first-named collector says in his paper on the birds collected by him in Northern Japan : — 

 " Of the species of Woodpeckers seen at Hakodadi this is the most common, and frequents all 

 the large forests and woods in the neighbourhood. I obtained a number of specimens." 

 Mr. Swinhoe, it should be noticed, does not give Picus major as an inhabitant of Japan in his 

 comparative list of species (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 333). This is perhaps an oversight, or he may 

 have thought that the Japanese bird was probably one of the allied Chinese species, as Mr. 

 G. R. Gray gives P. gouldii as an inhabitant of Japan. We may state that we have been 

 unable to separate in any way the Japanese Pied Woodpeckers from the European P. major; 

 but the subject requires more ventilating. 



Returning to Europe, we find that the present species, according to Meyer, is abundant 

 in Livonia and Esthonia, and is also common in Germany. Herr von Pelzeln informs us that 

 it breeds in the Thiergarten Park, near Vienna; but in Styria, Seidensacher considered it an 

 uncommon bird. In some springs Schlegel says it is abundant in Holland; while Mr. H. M. 

 Labouchere has sent us the accompanying note: — "The Great Spotted Woodpecker is by no 

 means rare in some parts of Holland, and I have even seen it in a garden in the centre of 

 Amsterdam. I have observed, however, that in those parts where the Green Woodpecker 

 is abundant (for instance, in the pine woods of the province of Utrecht) Picus major is of very 

 rare occurrence." In Belgium also it seems to be only an irregular visitant, for De Selys 



