272 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



monosyllable " tweet, tweet." Both sexes produce 

 both sounds, as we have proved by shooting and 

 dissection. With a little caution we have repeatedly 

 approached to within a few yards of the bird or birds 

 at this time of year ; but so marvellously rapid is the 

 hammering action of the head that it was only by the 

 aid of a field -glass that we satisfied ourselves as to 

 the means by which such small operators produced 

 such a resonant result. We have once or twice seen 

 a pair of these Woodpeckers " in coitu " towards the 

 end of March, but never heard of eggs in their nest- 

 holes before the last week of April. The preparation 

 of the breeding-places seems to be carried on in 

 exactly the same manner as by the other British 

 Woodpeckers : no nest is made. The eggs average 

 from five to eight in number, and are of a pure 

 glossy white. The young of this species may often 

 be found in their nurseries long after they are able to 

 fly and take care of themselves. We cannot venture 

 to say whether a second brood is ever produced or 

 reared, but the first brood is sometimes to be found 

 late in July. Old fruit-trees, poplars, whitethorns, 

 willows, birch, alders, and elms are certainly the 

 favourite breeding-localities ; the selected spot is 

 generally at a considerable height, and, from the 

 tenuity and rottenness of the chosen bough, it is often 

 exceedingly diflftcult to obtain the eggs unbroken, 



"Little Woodpecker" and "Hammer-bird" are 

 the only names which w^e have heard applied by our 

 county-people to this species ; but " Barred Wood- 

 pecker " is, to our minds, the best and most distinc- 

 tive appellation ; our only reason for not using it at 

 the head of this article is that it is not so commonly 

 used or known as it deserves. We believe that this 



