99 



ground in search of them. It prefers the Formica rubra and F. fusca, but will also feed on the 

 other species. In the winter season it visits the ant-hills and devours large numbers of these 

 insects. The Eev. H. F. Snell, of Hohenstein, Nassau, states (J. f. O. 1857, p. 186) that " this 

 Woodpecker eats the berries of Sorbus aucivparia ; and I have caught the bird once in the snow 

 with these as a bait, and found on examination that it had swallowed the berries." 



In his paper on the birds observed between Takoo and Pekin, Mr. Swinhoe gives the accom- 

 panying notes on the present bird. At first he was inclined to doubt the identity of his Chinese 

 specimens with the European bird; but in his latest list of the 'Birds of China' (P. Z. S. 1871, 

 p. 392) he has referred his specimens to G. caims. He writes : — " I first met with this bird about 

 twenty miles beyond Tientsin, where the country abounded in woody plantations. It was often 

 to be found on the ground grubbing about the millet roots ; and its earth-stained bill gave tokens 

 of frequent insertion into the soil. If suddenly disturbed, it would utter a screeching laugh, and 

 fly off with a series of long undulations to some distant tree, on which it would fix close to the 

 roots and immediately dodge round to the other side, clambering up all the while with a short 

 jerking motion of the body. It rarely ascended into the upper branches, and seemed content 

 with beating the trunk of the tree only, unless the tree separated above into good thick boughs. 

 If the tree to which it next flew was only a few yards off, the bird's flight consisted of a flutter in 

 a direct line. When arrived, it would half turn on its back, as it were, and throw up its claws 

 to grasp firmly the bark. Its usual note was sharp and monosyllabic, and differed much from 

 that of its pied brethren. It proved to be very common, and known to the Chinese of the place 

 as the ' Tsaou-ta muh-tsze,' or ' Tree-injurer.' It is very tenacious of life, and hard to kill." 



Dresser found this Woodpecker breeding in Styria. near Cilli, about equally common as the 

 Green Woodpecker, frequenting the same localities, and breeding in similar places. The nest- 

 holes were usually in an aspen, alder, or some soft-wooded tree, and about ten to twenty feet 

 from the ground ; and the entrance appeared, if any thing, rather smaller than that made by the 

 Common Green Woodpecker. Eggs in Dresser's collection, obtained near Cilli in May, measure 

 1-^f by f^ to 1^ by f ^ inch, and in colour, texture, and form closely resemble the eggs of 

 Gecinus viridis, being pure glossy white, in shape oval, tapering somewhat towards the smaller 

 end. Mr. Collett informs us that if all the eggs but one or two are taken the bird continues to 

 lay. In May 1870, he found a nest in Valders, from which he thus procured sixteen eggs. He 

 states that he has generally found the eggs of this species differ from those of the common Green 

 Woodpecker in being blunter at the larger end. In Norway fresh eggs are generally found 

 between the 10th and the 14th of May. Mr. A. Benzon informs us that he has some Norwegian 

 eggs taken early in June. 



The descriptions are taken from three Swedish specimens in Lord Walden's collection, beau- 

 tifully preserved by the late Mr. Wheelwright. The figures in the Plate represent a pair in our 

 collection, sent to us by our friend Dr. Kutter. 



