GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 237 



species is busied about the stems and branches of trees of all 

 kinds in continual search for its insect food, and at night 

 retires to a hole in a tree to roost. 



The Spotted Woodpecker is a powerful, lively, clever, 

 and courageous bird, and contributes greatly to enliven the 

 melancholy quiet of a pine forest, by continually pecking, 

 jarring, dropping splinters of wood on the ground, calling its 

 mate, &c. ; and when thus employed, it is generally accom- 

 panied by titmice, golden-crested wrens, and creepers, whose 

 minor chatterings assist in the concert. The Woodpecker, 

 however, cares not for their company, as he is very unsocia- 

 ble to all, jealous of his food, and quarrelsome. 



The jealousy of this bird leads it into danger, as it is 

 sure to take notice if any one taps against a tree ; and ap- 

 proaches sometimes near enough to be caught with the 

 hand. When on the ground, its progress is neither very 

 rapid nor elegant ; but he displays the greatest agility in or 

 about a tree, which he traverses in all directions while he can 

 have his head upwards ; and, on reaching the very top, it is 

 not uncommon to see him perch on a branch like any other 

 bird in a transverse position. When climbing, this bird, 

 like the rest of his family, makes great use of his tail in 

 balancing himself. 



The flight of the Spotted Woodpecker is strong and re- 

 gular, forming long curved lines, first quickly moving the 

 wings, and then again drawing them closer to the body. 



The call-note of this bird is a quickly expressed, gich, or 

 kirr ! uttered only once at a time at long intervals, in which 

 he differs from the foregoing Woodpecker : even in the 

 pairing season the Spotted Woodpecker utters his call-note 

 but once at a time, repeating it at certain intervals when 

 perched in the top of a tree ; he seems, however, to make 

 up for this want of vocal noise, by jarring the more indus- 

 triously with his beak against a dead upper branch of the 



