27 



9 



but Mr. G. R. Gray believes that the species he met with was Picus felicice : this identification 

 is also a subject for inquiry. In Southern Russia Professor von Nordmann states that it is 

 common " in all the woods and groves on the coasts of the Black Sea, visiting also the gardens 

 in the steppes in autumn and winter. Nests in the Crimea." 



As will be seen by the various localities we quote, the Great Spotted Woodpecker is 

 generally spread over Europe. Naumann erroneously states that it occurs in North America; 

 but its place is here taken by its congener Picus villosus. In almost every part where it is met 

 with it is not a true resident, and still can scarcely be called a migrant, as during the autumn it 

 undertakes shorter or more extended wanderings, returning again to its old nesting-haunts early in 

 the spring. In its habits it is quarrelsome and fond of solitude, and cares little for the company 

 of either individuals of its own species or other birds, although in its autumnal excursions it is 

 often accompanied by Nuthatches, Creepers, Titmice, and other small birds. 



It is an active, busy bird ; and its clear sharp note (tick or tchick) and sprightly tapping on 

 the trees often cause a pleasant interruption in the stillness of the woods in winter. It moves 

 about with peculiar swiftness and agility, and will drop on to the trunk a little distance from 

 the ground, ascend quickly in a spiral direction nearly to the top of the tree, and, should it not 

 find any thing worth looking after, fall suddenly off, and with a few active movements of the wing 

 throw itself on to another tree, which it proceeds to examine in a similar manner. Its usual 

 tapping consists of a succession of smart blows, which sound as if the bird were fully in earnest 

 in its search after food ; but in the spring of the year, at the commencement of the pairing-time, 

 the male bird often makes a most peculiar sound by sitting on some dead branch and hammering 

 so quickly that the noise of the taps, combined with the vibration of the dead bough, produces a 

 loud whirring noise, which may be described as errrrr or orrrrr; and with this the bird calls his 

 mate. Active as this bird is on the tree, it is equally awkward on the ground, whither, however, 

 it seldom goes, and only when in search of such food as ants, which it cannot otherwise procure ; 

 for, like the Green Woodpecker, it sometimes feeds on these insects in the autumn and winter, 

 although they are not so staple an article of food as with the last-named bird. 



From our friend Mr. A. Benzon we have received the following letter : — 



"In Danish this bird is called Flagspet, otherwise Buntspet, FleJcspet, TrashakJcer, all of 

 which names are used both for it and Picus medius. The Great Spotted Woodpecker is our 

 commonest species, and breeds here and there in all forests where it finds rotten trees that are 

 suitable for boring out its nest-hole. Sometimes it uses the same hole for two successive years, 

 and, if disturbed, makes another on the same branch or trunk; and at Dyrehaven I found a 

 branch in which were no less than seven holes, of which of course only one was tenanted. 



" It has eggs in May, rather sooner than Picus medius, often early in the month, more 

 generally about the middle, and but seldom at the end of May, and then only in late seasons. 

 In 1870 I found young birds at Dyrehaven as early as the 22nd of May. This year (1870), on 

 account of the cold spring, it is very late. Eggs taken in Denmark are generally smaller in size 

 than those from the south of Europe." 



Mr. Gould gives the following account of the present species : — 



" In its habits there are few birds more shy and recluse. Unlike the Green Woodpecker, it 

 seldom approaches the dwelling of man, but keeps to the topmost branches of the large trees; 



2o 



