GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 
3 
which impatient horsemen are supposed to urge on their unwilling steeds. Flying to the topmost branches 
of one of the adjacent trees, she uttered this note once or twice at short intervals, and speedily dashed off 
into the depths of the forest, returning again from time to time to discover if it was possible to make 
her way to her nest, which Avas placed in a large Scotch fir. On one occasion during her absence my attention 
was attracted by a Coal Tit, who was diligently searching for food to convey to his brood, cunningly concealed 
in a rotten stump at no great distance. While closely inspecting the limbs of the fir, he became aware of the 
holes in the trunk, and instantly popped into the very one in which the young Woodpeckers were quietly 
reposing. Startled by his unexpected appearance, or mistaking him for the shadow of their absent parent, 
the whole family at once broke out into full cry ; and I never saw a bird make a hasty retreat with greater 
signs of alarm than poor Farm atcr exhibited as he dashed from the hole and disappeared in the thickest of 
the surrounding cover. 
If taken when young, these Woodpeckers are easily reared in confinement. Those I secured as specimens 
were procured in Sussex, the brood having been hatched in a large Scotch fir. The loud cries they emitted 
from the inside of the tree led me to believe (though unable to obtain a glimpse of them) that they must 
be ready to take their departure. On cutting an opening into the stem, I was surprised to discover my 
supposition was entirely wrong. Though the quills were plainly showing, there was not a single feather 
opened on any of the young birds. As I had shot botli male and female, it was useless to leave them longer ; 
so giving each of the four that composed the brood a good feed from the immense hall of insects I found in 
the mouth of one of their defunct parents, together with some pieces of raw beef, which I had brought with 
me in case it might he needed, I was enabled to satisfy their wants for the time. Being regularly supplied 
with raw beef, as well as a few worms, insects, and ants’ eggs, their feathers rapidly expanded. 
The following dates, taken from my notes jotted down at the time, will show the rate at which their 
plumage was assumed : — 
“June 3rd. Young Woodpeckers taken from the nest; only pin-feathers visible. There was but little 
difference in the size of the brood of four ; two, however, were slightly larger, as well as decidedly more 
vigorous. 
“June 4th. All grown considerably, and feathers expanding rapidly. The two largest pecking and 
hammering round the woodwork of their cage. 
“ June 8tli. The tail-feathers making their appearance. 
“ June 9tli. One or two commenced to call, the note being similar to the whistle of the old male. 
“ June 14th. As the two largest and strongest persisted in knocking the smaller and weaker birds from 
their perches, they were killed today, being now full-fledged, and in the state in which they were required as 
specimens. Eye dark hazel. Beak dark slate. Feet and legs pale slate. These two I conjectured were 
males, the crowns of their heads being entirely covered by crimson feathers, while the smaller birds exhibited 
but an exceedingly minute patch of this colour. One of the weakest of the brood showed a pale pink mark 
on the feathers in the centre of the breast. 
“June 21st. The two remaining birds were now full-fledged, and consequently shared the same fate as 
their companions. These were both faintly marked with pink in the centre of the breast. By this time I 
discovered the small patch of crimson on the head had increased, and there was not the slightest difference 
in the plumage of the four young ones that composed the brood, with the exception of the pale pink spot in 
the centre of the breast of the two more backward birds. From this evidence I think we may fairly state 
that, in their first feathers, the male and female of the Great Spotted Woodpecker show the same amount of 
crimson on the head.” 
