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" commoner in the south than in the north of France ; still it is not rare in Lorraine. Mr. J. 

 Hollandre says that it is more particularly found in the oak-forests of Merten, near Saint Avond, 

 and near Sarrelouis." Messrs. Jaubert and Barthelemy Lapommeraye likewise remark concerning 

 the present species :— " Common in France, though not found everywhere. We sometimes see it 

 at Marseilles, on passage, about the end of September ; but besides that it is only found in some 

 parts of the Department of Var. It is sedentary in the chain of the Maures and in the woods of 

 Esterel, whence our friend M. Arquier has often procured the bird and eggs. It has, however, 

 not been observed in the Basses-Alpes." Bailly states that it is found only rarely in Savoy, but 

 remains there throughout the year. It is more often seen towards the spring during intense 

 cold, in the small woods and parks, and particularly amongst the chestnut-trees. He further 

 states that it has been procured or observed at Bissy, St. Sulpice, Vimines, near Chambery, 

 Pussy, Bonneval, and Tarantaise. Canon Tristram informs us that about twenty-five years ago 

 he shot a specimen at Vevay, on the Lake of Geneva. In his paper on the Birds of Southern 

 Spain, Mr. Howard Saunders observes : — " Guirao considers this species even more abundant in 

 Murcia than Gecinus viridis, especially in the pine-woods of the Sierras de Espuna and de la 

 Pila. I never obtained it myself, but have handled specimens." In Portugal, according to 

 Mr. A. C. Smith, it is " said to be common." It occurs in Italy, but is not common, being pro- 

 bably only found in the forests of the northern portion of that country. In Malherbe's book the 

 present species is spoken of as " not common in Sicily." We are sorry to say that the statements 

 of this author with regard to Sicilian birds cannot be trusted ; and Professor Doderlein, a much 

 higher authority, is not yet certain, from personal observation, of its occurrence in Sicily, 

 although it is mentioned in the appendix to Mina's catalogue of the birds of the Madonie. 

 Captain Sperling remarks : — " The only bird of this species that ever came under my observation 

 was shot by a companion in an olive-tree in Santa Maura. I do not think it has ever been 

 observed in the Ionian Islands before." In Greece it is probably a local bird, as it is not men- 

 tioned by Lindermayer or Von der Miihle ; but Dr. Kriiper has forwarded specimens from iEtolia 

 and from Macedonia, where it apparently breeds, to judge from a young specimen procured by 

 that celebrated collector in that locality. Messrs. Elwes and Buckley likewise state that they 

 found it " common in Macedonia, and near Constantinople, frequenting gardens and open 

 country in preference to the deep forest." Mr. Robson also kindly sends us a note: — "This 

 species is not so numerous in Turkey in Europe and Asia Minor as the Picus major. They are 

 found in similar localities, and though not so abundant, are not difficult to procure in the old 

 forests of Asia Minor and Europe. They are lively, active, shy birds, and are constant residents 

 in Turkey." Professor von Nordmann says the Middle Spotted Woodpecker is " found singly in 

 Bessarabia and the Crimea, and has been killed once in the winter near Odessa." In Western 

 Russia, Pallas states that it is as common as in the rest of Europe, but never procured further to 

 the east, nor in Siberia. Mr. Keith Abbott met with it at Trebizond. 



Naumann gives an excellent account of its habits: — "Although both this bird and the Great 

 Spotted Woodpecker frequent the same sort of country, it is easy to see that they affect different 

 kinds of woods, the latter bird preferring the conifer-growth, whereas the present species keeps 

 more to the non-evergreen groves. It may sometimes be seen in conifer-woods when travelling, 

 but never remains there long, although in places where conifers are interspersed with non- 



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