422 



British Cage Birds. 



gardens, and show much partiality for elm trees, and mostly- 

 select one of these in which to lay their eggs, making for 

 the latter purpose a deep hole in some part of the tree 

 where the wood has commenced to decay ; they build no 

 nest, but act in all respects similar to their larger brethren 

 — the Greater Spotted Woodpeckers. The hen lays four or 

 five eggs^ rather smaller in size than those of the latter 

 bird, incubates them for about sixteen days, and rears her 

 young after the same fashion. The Lesser Spotted Wood- 

 pecker is known by the name of Hickwall, and in some parts 

 is termed the Pump-borer, on account of the peculiar noise 

 it makes when hunting for insects. 



Methods of Capture. — The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 

 may either be taken by placing limed sticks about the en- 

 trance to the holes in decayed trees on which the bird roosts, 

 or by placing a hand net over the holes, on moonlight 

 nights. 



Food and Treatment. — The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 

 should be fed and treated exactly the same as the Greater 

 Spotted Woodpecker. 



Ebarinq the Young. — The remarks made under this head- 

 ing in the chapters on the Green Woodpecker" and the 

 ''Greater Spotted Woodpecker" are equally applicable to this 

 variety. 



Distinguishing Marks of Cock and Hen. — The female 

 may be known by the colour of the head, which is white, 

 whilst that of the male is crimson. Neither the male or 

 female are possessed of the red vent which adorns the 

 Greater Spotted Woodpecker. 



Song.- — The bird under consideration is destitute of a 

 song; its call note is ''He, he, he," repeated several times 

 in succession, and when angered it makes a peculiar, loud 

 noise, resembling the snorting of a fiery charger. 



Points to be Observed in Judging. — See observations 

 under this heading in the chapter which treats on the 

 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, as they will be found equally 

 appropriate and applicable to the Lesser variety. 



General Eemarks. — There is another variety of the Spotted 

 Woodpecker, called the "Middle," or ''Medium." This bird I 

 regard merely as a smaller variety of the Greater Spotted 

 Woodpecker, as the principal differences are that it is 



