THE PIED WOODPECKERS. 
7 
than seen, but it may occasionally be detected, as it wends its 
"■ay from tree to tree with a dipping flight, exposing the yellow 
Its back as it flies away. It is more often seen near the 
g''ound than the two other British Woodpeckers, and it may 
Sometimes be observed flying from one small tree to another 
the hedgerows. Another reason for its ground-frequenting 
"abits is that it feeds largely on ants, and commits great havoc 
among the nests of these industrious little insects. When it 
alights on a large tree, it generally commences at the bottom, 
aiid works its way to the top with great rapidity, though, if the 
oird be conscious of the proximity of a stranger, it generally 
. to the opposite side of the tree, and its upward progress 
IS marked only by an occasional sight of its head, as it peers 
found to take a glance at the intruder. It finds much of its 
food beneath the bark of old trees, and it is therefore gener- 
^ y to be observed in parks and old forests, these being the 
favourite home of the Green Woodpecker. Its food consists 
almost entirely of insects, but it is also said to eat nuts and 
occasionally wasps and bees, as well as their grubs, 
y hen hammering at the bark of a tree, the bird receives con- 
* support from its stiffened tail-feathers. 
Nest — None. The eggs are laid at the bottom of a hole, 
flowed by the birds themselves, on the chips of wood accu- 
™';f'ated during the excavation of the nest-liole. The latter is 
ften situated at but a short distance from the ground, and the 
ifcular entrance to the nest is so perfectly made that it might 
bm*^ pf®on executed by an expert carpenter rather than by the 
of a bird. As a rule only hollow trees are attacked, but it 
w'H^ ff'ff^oubted faetthat occasionally sound trees are attempted, 
to h fosult that the AVoodpecker has to desist in its effort 
Dore a nest-hole, and is driven to seek a more rotten tree for 
ffs operations. 
wlpf^^ — from five to seven, or even eight, in number. Bure 
’0 and glossy in appearance. Axis, i'25-i'is; diam., 
vS o‘85. 
The pied woodpeckers, genus dendrocopus. 
I^endrocopus, Koch, Baier. Zool. i. p. 72 (1816). 
Type, Z». (L.). 
the Pied Woodpeckers about forty species are known, and 
