WOODPECKER. 
GREAT SPOTTED 
FICUS MAJOR. 
Though this species is occasionally observed in considerable numbers on the north-cast coast of Scotland at the 
time of migration, I am of opinion it is by no means plentiful at the present date in the Highlands. The 
remains of the old timber in the valley of the Spey, and in many other parts of Inverness and the adjoining 
counties, indicate that Woodpeckers were formerly numerous in those districts. From reports I have gathered 
from keepers and foresters in the various glens, I conclude the birds must have belonged to this species. On 
some of the largest and oldest trees I have counted from twenty to thirty holes bored right into the centre of 
the stem. According to the statements of my informants, it appears that these Woodpeckers commenced to 
decrease in numbers about 1845 or 1850. In many parts of the country only an occasional straggler was seen 
for nearly thirty years. I discovered, however, on passing through several of these localities in 1878 and 1879, 
that a few pairs had lately taken up their quarters in these long-deserted haunts. The cause of their dis- 
appearance in the first instance was perfectly unaccountable to all those with whom I conversed on the 
subject. 
Squirrels were accused by the keepers of destroying the nests of Crossbills and Siskins in some of the districts 
where the W oodpecker had previously been abundant, I perceive these animals are supposed by more than 
one writer to be responsible for the scarcity of Ficus major. This is a subject on which I will not venture an 
opinion. Though I have frequently trapped squirrels by means of eggs, I never saw one in the act of preying 
on either young birds or eggs, and am consequently unable to give any information concerning their predatory 
habits on my own authority. 
In Cumberland and Yorkshire I met with a few pairs of Larger Spotted Woodpeckers during the summer 
months in districts where large timber abounded. Norfolk appears to be the most northern county in which 
this species is to be found in any numbers. Occasionally, during the autumn and early winter, I have come 
across a few birds in the plantations near the coast. These, in every instance where I obtained a chance of 
examining them, were in the immature stage and, I believe, migrants from the north of Europe. I can find 
no evidence among my notes of having received wings from the lightships off the east coast; so I conjecture 
it is most probable these birds were stragglers from some flock that had first made the land on the inhospitable 
shores of Shetland or Orkney, Caithness or Eastern lloss, and then gradually worked their way towards the 
south. In the vicinity of Norwich this Woodpecker is by no means uncommon ; and there are also residents in 
various other parts of the county. Throughout Kent, Sussex, and Surrey this species is very generally 
distributed. I have observed a few specimens in several other counties in addition to those named ; and I 
believe the bird is more common than is usually supposed. 
The food of this species is composed of insects of various kinds, for the most part extracted from the rou»h 
bark of trees. I have observed the young fed on the flying ant, also a mixture of flies, grubs, and other small 
insects. Should the old bird be shot while carrying this description of food, it will be found that the greater 
