56 



uncommon bird about Brentford, Kew, Harrow, and Ealing, especially in spring and autumn ; 

 for although resident throughout the year, I have reason to believe that this species is partially 

 migratory." 



Mr. Stevenson gives the following account of the bird in Norfolk : — " This species, though 

 undoubtedly scarce, probably appears even more so than it really is, its small size and wary 

 nature rendering it easily overlooked. It remains with us throughout the year, and breeds in 

 the country, but is extremely local. Mr. Gurney informs me that within his recollection they 

 were killed occasionally in Cossey Park, where they were supposed to be residents ; and Blickling 

 Park would seem to be another favourite haunt, from specimens having been obtained from time 

 to time in that locality, of which two are stated by Messrs. Gurney and Fisher in the ' Zoologist ' 

 (pp. 1702-1769) to have been killed in the spring of 1847, — the first, a male, in March, and a 

 female in the following May. In January of the same year, as recorded in the same journal by 

 Mr. Alfred Newton, one was obtained in a wood at Barningham ; and a female was shot at 

 Halesworth, in the adjoining county, in February 1855. Mr. George Master also informs me 

 that he shot one at Snettisham, in Norfolk, in October 1856." Mr. Hunt, in his 'British 

 Ornithology,' thus speaks of this bird, as observed by himself in close vicinity to Norwich, 

 though in a locality where one would be least likely to look for it at the present time : — " We 

 have frequently seen this species on some willow trees, at the extremity of our garden, not only 

 during the summer months, but also in the winter season, running up the branches with great 

 celerity." Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., also tells us that it is rare in Norfolk, and becomes scarcer 

 towards the north of England. In Durham he never met with it, and the only specimens that 

 he knows of from that county are in Mr. Hancock's collection. In his book on the birds of 

 Western Scotland, Mr. Robert Gray remarks : — " The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is included in 

 Don's ' Fauna of Forfarshire,' and also in Pennant's ' Caledonian Zoology.' Mr. Shearer states 

 that it has once been observed in Caithness ; and Mr. Tate, in his list of Alnwick birds, includes 

 it as a species found on the borders. I have, however, never been able to examine a specimen 

 killed in any part of Scotland." 



Mr. Collett states that of all the Woodpeckers this species is the most evenly distributed 

 throughout Norway, being found in most districts, from the extreme south up to the Eussian 

 frontier, while it breeds both in the low country and in the birch region on the fells. It is more 

 numerous in the interior of the eastern districts, in the low subalpine portions ; along the west 

 coast it is rare, but has been found here and there, as, for instance, at Nordfjord. Near 

 Christiania it is found more generally from the autumn to the spring, at the outskirts of woods, 

 especially birch woods." 



According to Nilsson " it is never seen during summer in Southern Skane ; only in winter 

 after snow has fallen does it occasionally occur. In Northern Skane I have seen fledged young 

 in July. In Smaland it occasionally occurs in summer, but further north is commoner. In 

 Sodermanland at all seasons it is less rare ; at Gothenburg it is common throughout the year ; at 

 Oroust, in the wooded districts, some years common, others not seen ; at Tjorn commonest in 

 winter. In Dalecarlia, Herjeadal, and northern Wermland it is common." The Lesser Spotted 

 Woodpecker was met with by Wheelwright at Quickjock, in Lapland, and was commoner there 

 than P. major. M. von Wright says that it occurs probably all over Finland ; but how far north 



