148 MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 



digesting them it may be seen picking up particles of 

 gravel at the base of the tree. It is not content with 

 the insects it finds under the bark, but will split off 

 entire pieces, and crush the rotten wood beneath into 

 holes, in its search for wood-feeding larva?, such as 

 Sirex, Ceramhxjx, Bostrichus, Forficula, etc. It never 

 seems to suiFer for want of food during the winter; it 

 is generally in good condition, but 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 the kernels whole, and will eat acorns 

 and beech nuts in the same way. Naumann farther 

 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 bright voice, or whirr 

 against their rival. Their nesting place is thus easy to 

 discover, as also the tree by the debris at the bottom, 

 but 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 



