LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

Picus minor, Linn.

Le Pic épeichette.

Tue present elegant species of Woodpecker, which has received from the older ornithologists the specific
title of ménor, is, indeed, the least of all the European Woodpeckers ; but if we include India and other por-
tions of the globe, we find species considerably smaller, rendering its appellation erroneous, unless we
consider it as strictly in reference to its European congeners. As far as we have been able to ascertain, this
portion of the globe forms the restricted habitat of this species, over the whole of which, however, it is
pretty generally distributed, confining itself to the precincts of woods, parks, and orchards. In England it
is far more abundant than is generally supposed ; we have seldom sought for it in vain wherever large trees,
particularly the Elm, grow in sufficient numbers to invite its abode: its security from sight is to be attributed
more to its habit of frequenting the topmost branches than to its rarity. Near London it is very common,
and may be seen by an attentive observer in Kensington Gardens, and in any of the parks in the neighbour-
hood. Like many other birds whose habits are of an arboreal character, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
appears to perform a certain daily round, traversing a given extent of district, and ee to the same
spot whence it began its route. Besides the Elm, to which it is especially partial, it not unfrequently visits
orchard-trees of large growth, running over their moss-grown branches in quest of the larvae of insects,
which abound in such situations. In its actions it is very lively and alert. Unlike the Large Woodpecker,
which prefers the trunks of trees, it naturally frequents the smaller and more elevated branches, which it
traverses with the utmost ease and celerity: should it perceive itself noticed, it becomes shy, and retires from
observation by concealing itself behind the branch on which it rests ; if, however, earnestly engaged in the
extraction of its food, its attention appears to be so absorbed that it will allow itself to be closely approached
without suspending its operations. When spring commences, it becomes clamorous and noisy, its call being
an oft-repeated single note, so closely resembling that of the Wryneck as to be eee distinguishable from
it. At other times of the year it is mute, and its presence is only betrayed by the reiterated strokes which it
makes against the bark of trees. a ae

Like the rest of its genus, it deposits its eggs in the holes of trees; the eggs being four or five in number,
and pure white.

The sexes offer no other difference than that the female has the crown of the head white, whereas in the
male it is of a fine scarlet.

The young attain the plumage of adults immediately after they leave the holes in which they were reared.

The adult male has the crown of the head scarlet ; the cheeks, stripe over the eye, ee of the neck, and
under parts dull white ; an irregular black band passes from the beak oe the sides of a me | ee 2
the neck, upper part of the back, ramp, and middle tail-feathers pews wings ae centre Oo a s : a
with black and white ; outer tail-feathers white, obscurely barred with black ; faint longitudinal dashes of the
same colour are also observable on the breast.

The Plate represents an adult male and female of the natural size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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