THE GREAT BLACK WOODPECKER. 
617 
segment of a sphere, though not a hemisphere, and is 
lined with a layer of small chips, upon which the eggs 
are laid: these are from three to four in number, some¬ 
times five, and but very rarely six; they are comparatively 
small, measuring one inch and from five to six lines in 
length, by one inch and two lines in breadth, very round 
at one end, and blunt-pointed at the other, bulging out 
in the centre; they are pure white inside, and the same 
outside, polished like ivory. 
“All the nests I found were situated in smooth¬ 
stemmed beeches and firs, and never in any other trees. 
The nest is used for several seasons, even when harried, 
or one of the old birds is shot; on each occasion it is 
cleaned out afresh, and a few more chips dug out. It is 
too much trouble for the Great Black Woodpecker to hew 
out a fresh nest every season, besides suitable trees for 
the purpose are not so easily found. A new nest is 
recognizable from a distance, betrayed as it is by the 
quantity of chips laying scattered over a surface of some 
ten square feet beneath the tree; a few chips are to be 
found even under an old nest which has been repaired.” 
As soon as the female has deposited all her eggs in the 
nest, both birds begin to sit, and that with exemplary 
patience, the female doing duty from the afternoon to the 
following forenoon, and the male taking her place for the 
remainder of the day. When Great Black Woodpeckers 
are disturbed while incubating, they emit a peculiar com¬ 
plaining cry, quite different to their usual clear, joyous 
tones. The usual cry may be thus rendereda loud 
“gleuk, gleuk, gleuk,” or “ ldia, klia, klia,” and also a 
low “ keerr, keerr, keerr;” while the tones of distress 
cannot be given in words, they are, however, plainly 
expressive of grief. These birds, though continually 
