CHAPTER V 



The Greater Spotted Woodpecker 



BUT there is yet another bird which frequents the fir forests, and which 

 is as attractive even as the green woodpecker of the beech groves — 

 the Greater Spotted Woodpecker. 



The fact that a pair of these wonderfully showy birds is in occupation 

 of a certain wood is generally made obvious by the sharp penetrating cry that 

 they continually utter. This cry may be heard more or less throughout the 

 year, but more particularly in the nesting season' — especially if the nest tree 

 is approached at all closely ; and may be likened to the sound produced by 

 striking two pieces of stone together— like the ' chak ' of a stonechat, only 

 very much louder. 



But although the call may be heard at some distance, and one may be 

 attracted by it towards the bird, it is comparatively seldom that a Greater 

 Spotted Woodpecker is seen at anything hke close quarters- — unless, indeed, 

 it be flying overhead. For like the Green Woodpecker, it has a habit of remain- 

 ing hidden by keeping the stem of the tree to which it is clinging between 

 itself and the would-be observer. 



There are certain districts in which the Greater Spotted Woodpecker is 

 more numerous than the Green, although in the part of the country with which 

 we are dealing, the latter is the more general. One can usually distinguish 

 the nesting-hole of a Greater Spot by its small size and its somewhat eUiptical 

 shape ; that of the Green being a much more decided circle. Then the nesting 

 cavity of the former is usually excavated from completely dead wood, often 

 with the walls so fragile that one could break them away with the fingers ; 

 whilst that of the latter is usually dug from the stem of a tree which has, at 

 least, a sound exterior, and into which it would be difficult to break even with 

 a hammer and chisel. 



Like the Green Woodpecker, the Greater Spotted does not invariably 

 dig a fresh hole each year, but occasionally deepens the last year's home, and 

 in either case, allows the chips of wood thrown out to remain at the foot of 

 the tree. 



It is not an easy matter, however, to discover the nesting-hole of the Greater 



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