The following observations probably refer to the Siberian form of P. leuconotus above 

 referred to. Messrs. Dybowski and Parvex record it from Dauria as rare in the forests (at 

 Darasun), commoner in the forests of the Onon. Dr. G. Radde gives the following note : — 

 " Certainly inhabits all the wooded country in Southern Siberia, in winter, like most other 

 Woodpeckers which change their habitat as partial migrants. Although we observed it in 

 the conifer woods at Lake Baikal in winter, we never saw it there in summer. It probably 

 breeds not uncommonly in the Bureja Mountains ; " and Dr. von Middendorff says : — " I saw 

 it on the Ischim steppe, and on the highest point of the Stanowoi Mountains on the 31st of 

 May." Dr. L. von Schrenck writes : — " P. leuconotus, which, according to Pallas, extends 

 throughout Siberia to Kamtschatka, is found during the whole year in the Amoor country in 

 the green woods, and particularly on the willow-covered islands on the Amoor river. I found 

 it in December near the Nikolajevsk post ; and Mr. Maximowicz shot it in October and 

 November at the Mariinski post." Mr. Whitely says it is " by no means scarce in the forests 

 near Hakodadi. I shot several specimens of it in October and November 1865." 



For the accompanying original account of this species we are indebted to the kindness 

 of our friend Dr. Taczanowski : — " The White-backed Woodpecker is found everywhere in the 

 Kingdom of Poland, but is not numerous — indeed, in general, is less common than Pious medius. 

 It inhabits the green-wood forests, especially those which contain birch, oak, and elm trees, but 

 is not found in conifer woods. It is the least noisy and the most phlegmatic of our Wood- 

 peckers, quieter in its movements ; and its note is softer than that of the others. It will remain 

 sometimes for hours on the same tree, climbing about quietly and searching silently for insects. 

 Although its beak is stronger than those of the other Spotted Woodpeckers, it does not make so 

 much noise in tapping on the trees ; for it works quietly, and generally on very rotten trees, where 

 it only shells off the bark. In winter it is often found in gardens and in the villages, where it 

 will sometimes spend whole days, only visiting a few trees or hedges ; it stands in far less fear of 

 man than its congeners. During the breeding-season it makes the noise which is common to all 

 our Woodpeckers, by tapping rapidly on a dry branch ; but it is not so loud as that of the others, 

 and cannot be heard at any distance. It feeds exclusively on insects. In nidification it generally 

 precedes the Great Black Woodpeckers (Dryocopus martins) by a few days, laying as early as the 

 beginning of April ; and by the middle of May the young quit the nest. It makes its nest-hole 

 in very rotten trees, especially in birches, ash trees, elms, and, but rarely, in oaks, most generally 

 in the trunk of the tree, about two or three fathoms from the ground. It generally chooses trees 

 so rotten that they are only held together by the bark. It once happened to me that on slightly 

 shaking an old trunk which contained young of this bird, and which had been used for the 

 purpose of nidification for the two or three preceding years, it broke, and literally fell in pieces. 

 The nest of this Woodpecker can easily be recognized by the shape of the exterior opening, 

 which is perfectly circular all along the horizontal passage ; whereas those of the other species are 

 elliptical at the beginning, and, after that, circular to a certain distance from the bottom. The 

 interior is far more spacious than in those of Picus major, and even sometimes exceeds that of 

 the Green Woodpecker. The debris of wood thrown out at the foot of the tree is larger than is 

 the case with the other species ; and this also serves to point out its nest. They generally deposit 

 two or three eggs ; I only know of one instance when four were laid ; and it is therefore 



