GREEN WOODPECKER. Q31 



INSESSORES. PWIDJE. 



SCANSORES. 



PLATE CXXXIV. 



GREEN WOODPECKER, 



PlCUS VIRIDIS. 



The Green Woodpecker is the most common of its tribe 

 that is found in Britain, and is equally so in most parts of 

 Europe ; it is found in Siberia as well as Egypt, is rare in 

 Holland and some parts of Germany ; and nowhere very 

 plentiful, although frequent. 



The jealous nature of the Woodpeckers respecting their 

 chosen habitat causes them to be much dispersed. Woods 

 and forests are the general resort of the bird now before us, 

 but hilly or level countries are chosen in preference to that 

 which is mountainous. Young plantations of timber in the 

 vicinity of rivers and pasture land this bird likes to visit, and 

 scattered trees of many kinds and sizes ; its choice seems more 

 to favour oak, beech, elm, lime, and willow trees, etc., than 

 fir or pine, as foliage is sought for by it. During severe 

 winter weather it also approaches farms and villages, search- 

 ing for food among the bark of fruit trees, decayed buildings, 

 and barns. 



This bird is very lively, but watchful, although less shy 

 than the black woodpecker ; its power of climbing trees in 

 all directions except downwards is equal to that of any of its 

 tribe, and its movements on the ground surpass in agility 



