GKEY WOODPECKEK. 
139 
stumps near avoocIs. It also comes into tlie gardens of 
villages or toAvns in Avinter, but does not cling to 
buildings. It remains, Xaumann tells us, much longer, 
and is seen more frequently on the ground than the 
Green Wood]3ecker, and AA'hen frightened from thence, 
it Avill fly aAvay and suspend itself from a high tree, 
or take up its position on the top of the same, in 
Avhich it differs considerably from the Green. At 
night it takes refuge in the holes of trees, to Avhich 
it retires, like other Woodpeckers, Avith great caution 
in the late tAvilight. 
Naumann tells us that the Grey Woodpecker is a 
lAely, cheerful, and impudent felloAv; cautious and 
crafty AAuthal, but not so shy as P. viridis. It is very 
restless, and alAA^ays either seeking its food, or flying 
A^ery adroitly among the trees. It rarely, hoAA^ever, taps 
upon them like the “Woodpecker tapping” of our oAvn 
country, but it has equal skill in chiseling out holes 
for its nest or nightly habitation. It is A-ery quarrel- 
some and jealous about its food, and is not by any means 
to be allured from this by any artificial knocking or 
“tree tapping.” It is less shy in the breeding season, 
and more frequently seen on the tops of high trees 
than the other Woodpeckers, Avhere it sits crossAvise, 
sunning and pluming itself, and making its Avhereabouts 
easily discovered by its call. 
It flies like the Green species, and its A'oice is A'ery 
much the same, but rings in the ear more agreeably, 
AA'hile the tone is less shrill and sharp. It is beard 
from March to June, especially in the pairing season, 
and in the beautiful mornings of the bright sunny 
spring. The note consists of a full-toned syllable, 
‘klii, klih, klih, klyh, klyh, kliik, kliik, kliik, kliik,’ 
sinking deeper each time, so that the end is much 
