. Coloured illustrations of British birds, and their eggs . louring,that there is no chance of mistaking this bird in England forany of its allied species; but on the Continent of Europethere are several woodpeckers which resemble it in the eyesof a casual observer, such as the Picas leuconotus, and Picusmedius, of which no specimens have hitherto been taken inEngland. The present species here represented is found all overEurope, North America, and Asia, but chiefly in the north-ern parts of those quarters of the globe; in Europe it occursfrom Sweden and Russia to Italy, and is more frequently
. Coloured illustrations of British birds, and their eggs . louring,that there is no chance of mistaking this bird in England forany of its allied species; but on the Continent of Europethere are several woodpeckers which resemble it in the eyesof a casual observer, such as the Picas leuconotus, and Picusmedius, of which no specimens have hitherto been taken inEngland. The present species here represented is found all overEurope, North America, and Asia, but chiefly in the north-ern parts of those quarters of the globe; in Europe it occursfrom Sweden and Russia to Italy, and is more frequently metwith than any other species of the woodpecker family. Towards the autumn of the year these birds wander morethan at any other time, but not sufficiently so to be con-sidered migratory ; they return to their summer quartersabout the month of March. The chief retreat of this speciesis in pine forests, from whence they absent themselves oc-casionally, when they locate themselves in many other forestplantations of different kinds. During the day time this. V SSI GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 237 species is busied about the stems and branches of trees of allkinds in continual search for its insect food, and at nightretires to a hole in a tree to roost. The Spotted Woodpecker is a powerful, lively, clever,and courageous bird, and contributes greatly to enliven themelancholy quiet of a pine forest, by continually pecking,jarring, dropping splinters of wood on the ground, calling itsmate, &c. ; and when thus employed, it is generally accom-panied by titmice, golden-crested wrens, and creepers, whoseminor chatterings assist in the concert. The Woodpecker,however, cares not for their company, as he is very unsocia-ble to all, jealous of his food, and quarrelsome. The jealousy of this bird leads it into danger, as it issure to take notice if any one taps against a tree ; and ap-proaches sometimes near enough to be caught with thehand. When on the ground, its progress is neither veryrapid
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, bookidcoloured, booksubjectbirds
