414 



British Cage Birds. 



these trees it excavates large holes, and roosts there during 

 the night time. It does not fly much ; the flight is unsteady 

 and undulating, but rather rapid. It spends much of its 

 time in climbing about old trees in search of insects, and 

 stripping off the bark where it is loose. It does not attack 

 sound and healthy trees. It has a singular method of 

 striking trees with its beak. The blows are given in rapid 

 succession, the bird swinging its body to give it force, to 

 frighten the insects from their place of concealment ; the 

 noise made in the performance of this operation is loud and 

 distinct, and may be heard for a considerable distance — some 

 say half a mile. The bird climbs the trunks of trees spirally, 

 using its tail as a lever both in ascending and descending, as 

 it comes down tail foremost, in which respect it differs 

 entirely from the Nuthatch. The Green Woodpecker is a 

 vigorous, lively bird, and goes about its work in a business- 

 like, methodical manner. It usually selects a large wood or 

 forest as a haunt, and seldom changes its quarters, being 

 very conservative in this respect, and only leaving it in the late 

 autumn and winter, when it frequents orchards and gardens. 

 It usually selects an ash or beech tree for the purpose 

 of breeding in, and makes a rather extensive excavation, of a 

 globular form, but very deep, with a circular entrance no 

 larger than is necessary to admit of easy access and- exit ; 

 the site chosen is mostly from loft, to 25ft. from the 

 ground. Both parents assist in the work, relieving each other. 

 No nest is made, the eggs being placed among the few 

 chips of wood that are left at the bottom of the hole. The 

 hen lays from foar to six (five generally) greenish white eggs, 

 with very thin shells, and incubates about seventeen days. The 

 young birds leave the nest when about eighteen days old, and 

 before they can fly climb about the trees like young parrots, 

 but return again to be fed and to roost at night. 



Methods of Capture. — These birds sleep in -the hollows 

 of decayed trees, and may be taken by placing limed sticks 

 about the entrance, or by putting a hand net over these 

 places on moonlight nights. It is well to bear in mind, how- 

 ever, that, as old birds are untameable, it is only a waste of 

 time to secure them. With young birds it is altogether 

 different, for, if they are captured prior to moulting, they 

 may be domesticated with a little patience and trouble. 



