GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER.
portion of the insects are alive—a blaek heaving mass, about the size of a Blackbird's egg, completely cramming
the mouth and throat, and at limes even forcing apart the upper and lower mandibles to a considerable estcnt.
Although this Woodpecker, like others of the family, makes use of many varieties of trees lor breedingpurposes,
I remarked in certain districts almost every nest would be found in the same description of timber.
In the Highlands j I bo ugh few nests now occupied Inn e come under my ob-erval ion) I n it iced tins bird breeding
in Scotch fir and birch. With scarcely a single exception tho old borings I examined in the forests were in
Scotch fir. Elm and oak appear most, frequently resorted to in the more southern counties; hut I have also
met. with broods in several varieties of fruit-trees as well as willow and fir. The last nest I examined was in a
remarkably high Scotch fir in one of the Sussex forests. The tree was rotten in the heart; and the bird
appealed to have first taken up its quarters at the time when the decomposition set in. The highest boring
was near the summit of the dead limb ; and at short intervals a fresh entrance had been made as the decay
progressed. Nine holes were counted in a space of about fifteen or sixteen feet, the young birds being
discovered on their usual bed about a foot or fifteen inches below the level of the lowest boring. The diameter
of this hole was exactly '¿1 inches ; il was impossible lo judge the si/e of the others, as decay had already set
in round the edges.
Towards Hie end of September IStIS the north-cast coast of Scotland was visited by a large flight of
Woodpeckers, scattered birds being noticed in the district for at least ten days or a fortnight Those that
came under my own observation were, in several instances, in most unusual situations. I noticed a few on the
coast near Dornoch ; and in the dusk of a misty evening, with the wind bloving strong from the east, 1 passed
numbers fluttering along the sandy links, and sheltering among the rough bushes on the Ituss-shire side of
the Dornoch Firth. They were especially numerous along the narrow strip of sand leading towards the Mickle
Ferry. Judging by the worn and ragged condition of two or three 1 shot, and others that u ere picked up disabled,
I imagine they must have met with rough weather on their passage, am! also that the portion of the coast on
which they had been driven was unsuited to their habits and requirements. From reports received from keepers
and others in the neighbourhood, I learned the flight extended along the coast-line for many miles. Several
of tho birds that had been shot were brought or sent to me in order to be identified, a few from remote districts
arriving in the shape of skins*. All f examined were in immature plumage and, for the most part, in very
poor condition. From those I shot and picked up 1 did nut reserve a single specimen, ou ing to t he ragged
and dirty state of their feathers. In consequence of the excessive weakness of the greater number met with,
it is probable that but a small percentage would regain sufficient strength to enable them to continue their
journey. A dozen or so of dead bodies were passed during one morning along the shore ; and for a week or two
longer I noticed a few single birds in the woods on both sides of the Firth. These cannot have remained
long in the district, as after the end of the first week in October I did not observe any specimens in the
vicinity of the coast, although 1 remained a year longer on the -bores of the Firth.
The cry of the male is two or three notes of a low whistle, uttered most commonly in tho spring, just
before the breed ing-seas on. I have, however, heard it on several occasions after the young were hatched.
Whether the female lias the same note I am unable to state. 1 remarked that flic only oound produced bv one
I prevented for several hours from visiting her brood was a sharp kliek, something resembling the noise by
* Although I am nnihk lo tepord with certainty the fart that 1 hnve otiuint'd the While-luck id Waedptakaf {Km bum**)) in iho British
Islands, I consider it may not tie out of place to state that Ihii species 1ms, without «l-niht, uttim 1 on our -l.'ir.-. Sunn- jciirs utter returning to
the south, 1 happMu-1 1.• di-f.,si'r utie i'f the skins jurviii.islv in. nri nir-.l [:t .1 1h>\ nf ue-1* irnj ,I1T,i-i in:iT< n il- hejiJirlil iroin Ihe north. T was
¡11.1 U iN'b il. 1, 1 y 111 - Lie 1 til" -].••:'M il, Lij'l, inf. trim: 11 u nil ;i -km nl /Wr-"r hit. IIhti- mm . 11,.1 Hi, .lulil,-t dimht as lo its
identity. At tho Iran Iho bint. »iw killed I hod no works Ihol nlhid. 1 lo tin- fpe. 1 .••1N~.11u-1.1LV inj ik-ei-l "II Ihoso that (nine under my
GREAT SfOTTLL) WOODPBCKEB
which iinptitieut horsemen are supposed to urge ou their unwilling steeds. Flying to the lopinosl branches
of one of the adjacent tiees, she uttered this note once or twice at short intervals, and speedily dashed olf
into the depths of the Torest, returning again from time to time to discover if it was possible to make
her way to her neat, uhich was placed in a large Scutch fir. On oue occasion during her absence my attention
was attracted by a Coal Tit, who was diligently- searching for food lo convey to his brood, cunningly concealed
in a rotten stump at no great distance. While closely- inspecting the limbs of the lir, he became aware of the
holes in the trunk, and instantly popped into the very one in which tho young Woodpeckers were quietly
reposing. Startled by his unexpected appearance, or mistaking him for the shadow-of their absent parent,
the whole family tit once broke out into full cry j and I never saw a bird mike a hasty retreat with greater
signs of alarm than poor Punie alee exhibited as he dashed from the hole ami 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 nr. 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 most
he ready to take Iheir departure, Ou cutting an opening iuto the stem, I was surprise! to discover my
supposition was entirely wrong. Though the quills were plainly showing, there was not a single fonther
opened on any of the young birds. As I had shot both male and female, il was useless lo leave them longer;
so giving each of the four that composed the brood a good ficd from the immense hall of insects 1 found in
the mouth of one of their defunct parents, together with some pieces of raw beef, which 1 had brought with
mo in case it might be needed, I was enabled to satisfy their wants for the lime. Rung 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 :—
" J u n e 3rd. Young Woodpeckers taken from the nest; only pin-feat hers visible. There was but little
dilTerencc in tho size of the brood of four; two, however, were slightly larger, as well as decidedly more
vigorous.
" J u n e 1th. All grown considerably, and feathers expanding rapidly. The two largest pecking and
hammering round the woodwork of their cage.
" J u n e Sth. The tail-feathers making their ap[ic;irance.
" June Oth. One or two commenced to call, the note being similar to the whistle uf the old male.
" J u n e 11th. As the Iwo largest and strongest persisted in knocking the smaller an I 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, Koak dark slate. Feet and legs pale slate. These Iwo I conjectured were
males, the crowns of their heads being entirely covered by crimson feathers, w bile the smaller birds exhibited
but an exceedingly minute patch of this colour. One of lire weakest of the brood showed a pule pink mark
on the feathers in the centre of the breast.
" J u n e 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. Ity this time I
discovered the small patch of crimson ou the head had increased, and ihere was not the slightest difference
in the plumage of the four young ones that composed the brood, with the exception uf the pah' 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, ihe male and female of the (ireat Sjiotted Woodpecker show the same amount of
crimson ou the head."