148 
:MII)DLE SrOTTEl) woodpecker. 
digesting- them it may be seen ]iiching np particles of 
gravel at the base of the tree. It is not content with 
the insects it finds under the hark, hut Avill split off 
entire pieces, and crush the rotten wood hcneatli into 
holes, in its search for wood-feeding larviP, such as 
S/rex, Ceramhyx, BostncJnis, Forficula, etc. It never 
seems to suffer for want of food during the winter; it 
is generally in good condition, hiit never fat. It is 
very fond of nuts, and will carry them like a Tomtit 
into the fork of some near tree, and crack them: it 
generally swallows tlie kernels Avhole, and will eat acorns 
and beech nuts in the same way. Naumann further 
tells us that it is a fruit-stealer, and will rob cherry trees, 
not so much however for the fruit pulp as the kernels 
of the stones, and that it will also split open fir-cones, 
and feed on the seeds when it cannot get better food. 
It does not affect the neighbourhood of water, is not 
often seen to drink, and still more rarely to bathe. Its 
stomach is larger than that of the other Woodpeckers. 
It nests in woods and sometimes in fruit gardens, 
which are overhung by woods of thick foliage. In the 
end of March or April they repair to their breeding 
places, which are easily betrayed by their restless habits 
and cries. Very soon (I am quoting Naumann) the 
male is seen chasing his mate from tree to tree, and 
among the boughs — or two males are observed having 
a battle royal — from which they frequently fly to swing 
from the highest summit of the trees. They now either 
call to their mates with a clear hri ght voice, or Avhirr 
against their rival. Their nesting place is thus easy to 
discover, as also the tree by the debris at the bottom, 
hut the hole is generally hid from view, and not so 
easily found. It is not often less than twenty feet from 
the ground, and very often as high as sixty feet. The 
