MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKEll. 
147 
and tolerably jilentiful in Switzerland, Italy, and France. 
It is plentifni in some parts of Siberia, and is met with 
all the year round in Denmark. It occurs only acci- 
dentally in Flolland. 
This species has been thought by some ornithologists 
to be the young or only a variety of Picus major. But 
they are very distinct both in ornamentation and habits. 
The female has the occiput and vertex red, as 'well 
as the male, 'w'hich is not the case with P. major. P. 
medius never remains long in pine woods, where P. 
major loves to dwell. It is a more active bird, and 
will adroitly avoid any disjmte leading to a fight with 
that bird; but it will give battle to one of its own 
species. Its voice is similar, but its call-note weaker. 
The Middle Spotted M^oodpecker dwells among the 
thickest foliage of the highest trees, particularly oaks, 
elms, and aspens. It is not often found on the ground, 
but like its congeners is generally seen paling trees, 
which it will ascend even to the top bough and perch 
there. Its habitation is in the highest hole it can find, 
and it will continue to use the same tree for years if 
not driven away. It is a most assiduous ‘Tapper,” and 
may often be seen on the under side of a decayed 
bough working away; the entrance hole turned towards 
the ground. 
It is a very handsome bird, perhaps the most so of 
all the European Woodpeckers. It is restless but not 
shy, and in pairing and breeding seasons very incautious. 
It can make good use of its legs in hopping on the 
ground, or from branch to branch. It has a whirring 
wavy flight, and appears on the wing a slenderer bird 
than its ally the Greater Spotted. 
Xaumann says that this bird will feed not only on 
insects but also upon many tree-seeds, and to assist in 
