232 picid,e. 



those of all the others, hopping about in search of food with 

 less awkwardness and for a longer continuance ; nevertheless 

 it is clumsy in comparison of other land birds of most kinds, 

 and when on the ground carries its body horizontally, 

 dragging its tail as it were behind. 



This bird is not so fond of excavating as the last mention- 

 ed species, and less frequently employed in tapping with its 

 beak. 



The flight of the Green Woodpecker is attended with 

 much and rapid fluttering of the wings, thus producing a 

 vibrating noise that is plainly heard in still, misty weather. 

 Its progress through the air is in long arched lines, formed by 

 raising itself by fluttering in the manner described, and then 

 again shooting along with half-closed wings. When on the 

 w-ing he extends his head and neck at full length. This 

 bird flies usually but short distances, although quite capable 

 of flying far without much exertion. Its restless nature is 

 very observable by its note, glu, glu, glu, gluck ! first uttered 

 in one place then in another incessantly. 



It is an impracticable attempt to tame the Green Wood- 

 pecker ; we have ourselves tried it, but without success, and 

 our drawing is made from a bird under these circumstances. 

 In Claremont park, Esher, Oatlands'' estate, W r alton, and 

 all wooded parts of Surrey, the Green Woodpecker is fre- 

 quently enough seen, and usually known by the name of yaffle. 

 The Green Woodpecker seeks for and obtains its food as 

 often on the ground as among the trees, and this consists 

 principally in ants and their eggs, namely, the Formica rubra, 

 F.fusca, F. nigra, and F. rufa, but not the F. herculeana. 

 The bird digs about the ants 1 nests or procures them from 

 among the bark of trees, decayed wood, etc. ; and in winter, 

 when the ground is frozen hard, breaks it open for the pur- 

 pose of obtaining his favourite meal : at that time it is the 

 F. rufa which he gets at most easily. 



