322 British Woodpeckers. 



The Green Woodpecker (Picas viridis, Linn.) is best known 

 and most widely distributed amongst British species, but, in 

 common with the rest of the genus, it possesses the facility of 

 quickly moving its position on the trunk of a tree so as to 

 interpose an efficient screen between itself and auy observer, 

 its green plumage harmonizing with the surrounding objects,,, 

 and its shy and retiring habits, lead to the belief that this bird 

 is more rare than it really 'is. During the spring months the 

 silence of the forest is often broken by the loud monotonous 

 cry of this bird, which, once heard, will never be forgotten ; 

 it is most frequently uttered before impending rain, and thus 

 serves as a barometer to the woodman, as does the pimpernel 

 to the shepherd. Its flight is heavy and undulated, but on the 

 rough surface of a tree its movements more resemble those of 

 a snake than of a bird, its brilliant crimson crown flashing like 

 flame when lighted by the sun's rays, as it glides in a spiral 

 manner round the stem, tapping the bark to dislodge the 

 numerous insects which shelter amongst its irregularities. It 

 may also be frequently seen on the ground in the vicinity of 

 ant-hills, feeding on the ants and their eggs, to which it is very 

 partial. The nest is placed in a decayed tree, the cavity being 

 excavated or enlarged to suit its wants ; the eggs are pure 

 white, from four to six in number, and are deposited on a layer 

 of decayed w r ood without any other lining. This bird is often 

 dislodged from its breeding place by the common starling, 

 which, though inferior in size, invariably succeeds in taking 

 possession of the contested cavity, in which it builds its nest. 



The Great Spotted Woodpecker (Picas major, Linn.) is less 

 frequent than the preceding species, which, however, it much 

 resembles in its habits, with the exception that it is more 

 frequently seen apart from woods, in places where old posts 

 or stumps abound, under the decayed bark of which live 

 innumerable insects, on which it feeds, both in the larval and 

 imago, or perfect state. 



Mr. Gould, in his Birds of Europe, speaking of this species, 

 says, u Nor are they free from plundering the fruit-trees of 

 the garden, and, in fact, commit great havoc among cherries, 

 plums, and wall-fruit in general."" Having succeeded in keeping 

 a bird of this species in confinement for nearly two years, my 

 observations lead me to form an opinion differing from that 

 stated by the above-mentioned author. The young wood- 

 pecker was taken from the nest before the quill feathers 

 were developed, and was kept in a small box, where it was 

 fed with various kinds of insects and spiders. When it was 

 two months old I placed it in a small canary cage. The 

 bottom and the sides, to the height of two inches, were 

 composed of bcechwood, which was rather decayed, and 



