Pus nao Renee : : : pamonsed 2 oie Serre es Pr, ———s 2 me = “ = Dip tnang mee r= eee g Spiess aoe 3 oe ee Fie; aS a fae on eRe Png ota > SS =) SS e oS SS eS st a Eps >S- m ay SD > y, * Sse) IP —<— = oo. SS Dy ss » > SS > ae PSP a i ee a ee ‘ ~~ Se So ays 32S eS OD >, . : 3 Sr 5 a 2. 3 2 2B : »D > ee ag eee wD = SSS me "SSR si Po J = > Sy : Aes 2X — > ALy ee “a — Se we ep 2B» 2 7 2 ae PEF ig 5 233 Spee =. eee as = SP > Bo Ee ee se »>F SES oye 23>) >> ; ere tee on Sy > Ti 5 TR ESS BD x FADE sae Le hp >) aa Le Boyt rs > 3 iS: = EP) i> ee LZ S —=—= =— ce = 3 eae IBY» a ae <> = a ea a > - = pi ' D ® 3 S 2 Sa a : : by 2S DDD Se LS ge Oe eee Sey >So i > => ) sD es 3 = 2 Dy» = 3 , >> La » E & Sta > —_ >. “37 i > Sale PP “Sh ss ae py Pee 5 ee >>> Sm ) say ) BID» ey Ik =P TS OD > Se DD’ >> ELE I DIDIP PP ee SS ce = aie Wyk yo sce A HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF EUROPE, INCLUDING ALL THE SPECIES INHABITING THE WESTERN PALHARCTIC REGION. BY H. EK. DRESSER, F.LS., F.Z.8., ere. VOLUME V. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 6 TENTERDEN STREET, HANOVER SQUARE, W. 1871-1881. = ALERE FLAMMAM. PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET. P= =< «t Zz § p SS \ \ SF4 \ % A NS, ? == —— i) ei Fe = nn fon Ree save Tea aca SLM TAO ar ANSE zeroed 2 TTR IOC 1, RT, BGS GE RTOS es a ay Sy = ey aN a NS \Y ys re ee eat ATR PPA ra | fH MEROPIDA. BUBONIDA. Jp) EE RSERK gfe a ac S R BE CORACIIDA. STRIGIDA. FALCONIDA (to Elanus), NING:— VOLUME ¥. CONTAI ALCEDINIDA. CUCULIDA. VULTURIDA. PICIDA. UPUPIDA. ee ) QL G40 AAD 17 yay i Vi = es RB Genera and Species. 84. Dryocopus 2935. Dryocopus martius 85. Picus . vias 294. Picus major 295. Picus numidicus . 296. Picus syriacus . 297. Picus leuconotus . 298. Picus lilfordi 299. Picus medius 300. Picus minor 301. Picus pipra . 86. PicoIDES . Re ae Se REN 302. Picoides tridactylus . 87. GECINUS rae. 303. Gecinus viridis. 304. Gecinus sharpii 305. Gecinus vaillantii . 306. Gecinus canus . Ghote CU NORD.C }), i SS ete man eee 307. Jynx torquilla . 89. ALCEDO Tees 308. Alcedo ispida . 90. CERYLE aie te 309. Ceryle rudis 91. Hatcyon . LETTERPRESS TO VOL. V. 310. Halcyon smyrnensis . Date of Ze publication. 1880 1871 1880 1871 1871 1871 1871 1872 1871 1872 1880 1880 1872 1880 1871 1872 1873 1872 1880 1875 1880 1875 1880 1875 1880 1875 Issued in Part 80 AI, 42 41, 42 Pages in article. ee im i phienarnw ihre oO or Final paging. 3-16 69-74 (©) 77-88 89-91 93, 94 95-100 101 103-109 1v Genera and Species. 92. CoRACIAS . 311. Coracias garrulus . 312. Coracias indicus . Merops 313. Merops apiaster 314. Merops persicus 315. Merops viridis . . UPUPA . 316. Upupa epops 5. CucuLus 317. Cuculus canorus 96. CoccYSsTEsS. 98. 99): 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 318. Coccystes glandarius . . Coccyzus . 319. Coccyzus americanus . 320. Coceyzus erythrophthalmus SUR UX Gar ager Meare ee. 321. Strix flammea . PA'S TOMI nee teas: 322. Asio otus 2 23. Asio accipitrinus . 24. Asio capensis . SYRNIUM : 325. Syrnium aluco . 6. Syrnium uralense . 7. Syrnium lapponicum . NYcTEA 328. Nyctea scandiaca . SURNIA. aes 329. Surnia ulula 330. Surnia funerea . NYcTALA al ee 331. Nyctala tengmalmi Scops : 332. Scops giu Date of publication. 1880 1871 1878 1880 1877 1877 1876 1880 1871 1880 1878 1880 1874 1880 1876 1876 1880 1879 1880 1876 1876 1877 1880 1879 1879 1878 1880 1873 1880 1872 872 1880 1872 1880 1876 Issued in Part 80 Pages in article. Ori (On py co = af 2 “TO ht rt to bet Ke pp = em Ee or Se + wo (comma Final paging. 139 141-148 149-152 Or S> Or 301-308 105. 106. 107. 108. 08), 110. 111. 112. 114. 115. Genera and Species. Buso pees 333. Bubo ignavus . GLAUCIDIUM 334. Glaucidium passerinum . ATHENE a ae 335. Athene noctua . 336. Athene glaux Gives Petras Soo, ay 337. Gyps fulvus. VULTUR Mec 338. Vultur monachus . NEOPHRON. 339. Neophron percnopterus . GYPAETUS . Egat 340. Gypaétus barbatus CIRCUS . : 341. Circus eruginosus . 342. Circus cineraceus . 345. Circus cyaneus . 344. Circus swainsoni . Buteo . 345. Buteo vulgaris . 346. Buteo desertorum . 347. Buteo ferox . ARCHIBUTEO Gastar 348. Archibuteo lagopus ANQOMWHNs 5 6.6 56 . Aquila pennata . Aquila pomarina . . Aquila clanga . . Aquila nipalensis . . Aquila rapax . Aquila adalberti . Aquila mogilnik . Aquila chrysaétus . ©9 ©9 ©9 O98 ©) CD OO OD Or Or Or Or Or Ot Ot +e or) a SSC SO uo} Date of publication. 1880 1875 1880 1871 1880 1871 1877 1880 1879 1880 1872 1880 1879 Issued in Part 80 80 71, 72 67, 68 73, 74 67, 68 oo OF Oo @ oo =) o Pages in article. i 8 6 em Ee Or I CO co — oOo Final paging. 2212) [959) 399-346 389 391-397 399 401-412 447 449-456 457-461 465-468 469 471-478 479 481-489 491-498 499-505 507-511 513-516 517-520 521-532 553-042 116. alee 118. HAL), cat Genera and Species. HAtiaktus ane 357. Haliaétus leucoryphus 308. Haliaétus albicilla Circa&TUs . 2 es 359. Circaétus gallicus . NIsaTUS . 560. Nisaétus fasciatus . ASTUR . Syeae a cs 361. Astur palumbarius . ACCIPITER . 362. Accipiter nisus . 363. Accipiter brevipes . . Minves. 364. Milvus ictinus . 365. Milvus migrans 366. Milvus egyptius . ELANUS 367. Elanus ceruleus Date of publication. 1880 1876 1875 1880 1874 1880 1874 1880 1875 1880 1871 1871 1880 1875 1876 1878 1880 1875 Issued in Part 80 55, 56 37 Pages in article. it 6 10 10 = or De wror aAVy Final paging. 543 545-550 551-560 561 563-572 573 575-584 585 587-596 597 599-631 633-639 641 645-650 651-656 657-659 661 665-668 wm Mm we MY LH wo a ee ee ee A co -J He fo) RY) Cons | SmcS bt bo ch © c CO So mo wm Ww bP bw (de) ¢ PLATES TO VOL. V. Plates. ae No. Plates. . Dryocopus martius 3 304. Asio accipitrinus . Pele CUSPINA} Oley antes ae ee” 10) 305. Asio capensis . MP LICUSeMUMICICUS ean 5 oS 306. Syrnium aluco - ICUS SVBROUS Ne Be so oa 10 307. Syrnium uralense > IENCOS hATCOS Ble 5 6 6 ol a Y 308. Syrnium lapponicum PeliGusslenconOtuse meres 309. Nyctea scandiaca juv. > ions Mitonalh 66 6 6 ee TI 310. Nyctea scandiaca ad. > LGUs TmHEChINS G6 so Be a OG | 311. Surnia ulula > IENCUS TOMO 5 5 6 0 oe oo WL 2 312. Surnia funerea > IENGUS JON jo oo eo on 6 OU) 315. Nyctala tengmalmi > Pieces trices . ¢ oo o Il, 314. Scops giu » Geom wwreches ~ 3g eee Gg 315. Bubo ignavus . > Gomes Semon 6-6 4 ep 6 IS 316. Glaucidium passerinum _ Eecunns velleingh | oy 5 1g) 6 4) 24 317. Athene noctua > COGIONS CAMS. 4) 66 5 a 6 AU 318. Athene glaux . , Jy torque. . o 15 © 6 dd, ao 319. Gyps fulvus ad. Me ANlcedonispida emir ts (imc 0 40 320. Gyps fulvus juv. . » Caryl mnglis- 6 56 56 3 3 6 they 321. Vultur monachus . Halcyon smyrnensis. . . . . 41,42 322. Neophron percnopterus. . Coracias garrulus 323. Gypaétus barbatus pull. mC oraciasimdicusi ye 8. Ml 2 324, Gypaétus barbatus ad. . . Microps aes? . 5 6 3 6 » Wap (OG 325. Gypaétus barbatus Juv. . PeMienopsEpersicus ri 14 | oi) Oon06 326. Circus eruginosus, fig. 1, g juv.; , Migros wees, 5 6 6 6 6 2 Oloy fig. 2, 9 ad. . Upupa epops . a 327. Circus eruginosus ad. . Cuculus canorus . . 65, 64 328. Circus cineraceus . . Coccystes glandarius . . . . 28 329, Circus cyaneus . Fig. 1, Coecyzus erythrophthal- ; 330. Circus swainsoni . mus; fig. 2,C. americanus. . 64 331, Buteo vulgaris _, {shiab< ikyambie; tel Nel aes) adler (dle 332. Buteo desertorum MPNSIONOUUS Msn ien Tt muck on vy GeO 333. Buteo ferox Io aI aI co wm bb . oo op =I or a en co 7 (Si) a wo Sy m= © wo OF 7 OO 09 ODO OD H= ©) OF OF OD OD @&) es) Co SY CA Cx Plates. esi . Archibuteo lagopus ad. . 46 . Archibuteo lagopus jun. 46 . Aquila pennata pull. 32 . Aquila pennata ad. . 3 . Aquila pomarina . 6 HO, OS . Aquila clanga . > O0, Oe . Aquila nipalensis. 5 oe . Aquila rapax . . 17-79 . Aquila adalberti . 18 . Aquila adalberti et A. thogilnik ju. 19 . Aquila meine 119 . Aquila chrysaétus 77-79 . Haliaétus leucoryphus . 55, 96 . Haliaétus albicilla juv. . 37 . Haliaétus albicilla ad. et pull. 37 . Circaétus gallicus ad. et pull. 39, 36 . Circaétus gallicus ad. et juy. . 29, 30 vill Plates. . Fig. 1, Nisaétus fasciatus ¢ ad. ; fig. 2, Aquila pennata 9 ad. . . Nisaétus fasciatus pull. . . Nisaétus fasciatus ad. . Astur palumbarius . Accipiter nisus: fig. 1, ead , re. land; fig. 2, g ad., England . . Accipiter nisus: figs. 1 & 2, ¢ ad. et jun., Palestine ; = 3, ¢ Juv., Turkey . Accipiter nisus: fig. 1, 2 ade Seat land; fig. 2, 2 ad., Switzerland . . Accipiter nisus Bey Oly . Accipiter brevipes ¢ ad. et juv. . Accipiter brevipes ? ad. et 3 juv. . . Milvus ictinus . Milvus migrans 3. Elanus ceruleus . Issued in Part Order III. PICI. Family PICIDA. Subfamily PICIN AE. Genus DRYOCOPUS. Picus apud Linnzeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 173 (1766). Dryocopus, Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 977. Dendrocopus apud C. L. Brehm, Isis, 1828, p. 1274. Carbonarius apud Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 131 (1829). Dryotomus apud Swainson, Faun. Bor.-Am. Aves, p. 301 (1831). Dryopicos apud Malherbe, Mém. Acad. Metz, 1849, p. 320. Dryopicus apud Malherbe, Monogr. Pic. i. p. 31 (1861). Ir is with some hesitation that I have subdivided the Woodpeckers into four genera, and have used the generic titles Dryocopus, Picus, Picoides, and Gecinus; but after mature consideration I have decided on taking this course. In the first place, it is no easy matter to decide what the type of the genus Picus is. Professor Newton says he has no doubt that Dryocopus martius should be looked on as the type; but in this view I cannot concur. The older authors had no idea whatever of types; and all that one can do is to infer that if they had lived in these times they would have constituted certain species types of the genera they made. It appears therefore to me to be mere conjecture to say that because Linneus ranged the Great Black Woodpecker foremost amongst the Picide, or because Brisson did the same with the Green Woodpecker, these authors meant those species to be the types of the genus. Under all the circumstances it seems to me best to accept, as many authors have done, Picuws major as the type of the genus Picus, and to place the Great Black Woodpecker in the genus Dryocopus. This species, which is the sole representative of the genus, is a shy, rather wild bird, and affects the denser forests—as a rule, those far away from human habitations. It climbs with ease about the trunks of the trees, like the common Woodpeckers, and obtains its food, which consists of insects of various kinds, chiefly by boring into the decayed portions of trees. Its flight is heavy, though swift and undulating; and its note is clear and loud. It excavates its own nest-hole in the trunk of a tree, and deposits several pure-white glossy eggs. It has the bill long, stout, conical, pentagonal, laterally bevelled at the tip so as to present an abrupt wedge-like termination ; nostrils oblong, concealed by reversed bristly feathers; wings long and wide, the first quill short, the second shorter than the eighth and about equal to the ninth; tail long, wedge-shaped, the shafts very strong, the terminal portion stiff and deflected; feet very short, first toe very short, the second moderate in length and united at the base to the third, fourth long and directed backwards, claws very large, curved, acute; tongue vermiform, terminated by a narrow, flat, horny point, which is ciliated with short reversed bristles, and extensile, as is the case with all the Picine. 84 27 4 MARTIUS . DRYOCOPUS KV DRYOCOPUS MARTIUS. (GREAT BLACK WOODPECKER.) Picus martius, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 173 (1766). Dryocopus martius, Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 977. Dendrocopus martius, Brehm, Isis, 1828, p. 1274. Carbonarius martius, Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 131 (1829). Dendrocopus pinetorum, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 185, t. 13. fig. 3 (1831). Dendrocopus martius, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 185 (1831). Dryotomus martius, Sw. Faun. Bor.-Am. Aves, p. 301 (1831). Dryopicos martius, Malh. Mém. Acad. Nation. Metz, 1849, p. 320. Dryopicus martius, Malh. Monogy. Picid. i. p. 31, t. 10. figs. 5, 6, 7 (1861). Great Black Woodpecker, English; Pic noir, French; Schwarzspecht, German; de zwarte Specht, Dutch; Spilkraka, or Svart-Hackspett, Swedish ; Svartspet, Norwegian ; Sortspet, Danish ; Dyatell Jelna, Russian; Picchio nero, Italian. ¢ nitide ater: remigibus brunnescentibus: capite summo cristato lete coccineo: rostro lactescente, cxruleo tincto, maxilla ad apicem nigricante: pedibus saturate plumbeis: iride sulphurea. mari similis, sed pileo nigro, macula magna occipitali coccinea. Male. General colour glossy black, slightly tinged with brown on the fore part of the under surface; quills and tail blackish brown; crown of the head crimson, narrowing into an occipital crest on the nape ; bill bluish white, blackish towards the point; feet dark grey; iris light yellow. Total length 18 inches, culm. 2°6, wing 9:0, tail 7:0, tarsus 1:3. Female. Similar to the male, but somewhat duller in plumage, and inclining to brown. Always to be distinguished by the crimson on the head being confined to a patch on the occiput, and not extending on to the forehead. ‘Total length 18 inches, culm. 2°3, wing 9:2, tail 7:2, tarsus 1°3. The young birds are similar to the adults, excepting that the bill is not so strong, the black not so pure, and the red on the crown of the male not so largely developed, nor so bright as in the old birds (von Wright). THE present species is highly characteristic of the Palearctic Region, and extends right across its northern portion, from Scandinavia to Japan. ‘Towards the south of Europe it becomes scarcer, but is met with in most of the large forests. Its supposed occurrence in England rests on the most unsatisfactory basis, as will be seen from an analysis of the evidence given in detail by Mr. Gurney below; we ourselves do not believe in the authenticity of one of the instances. Degland and Gerbe give scarcely any information about the distribution of the bird in France. All they say is that it is “found in the mountainous parts of Switzerland, France, and Sicily, accidentally in Liguria.” As regards its occurrence in Southern France, Jaubert and Barthélemy de la Pommeraye ry 2 state that it is of very rare occurrence in Provence and Dauphiné; and Baron J. W. von Miiller says it “inhabits the Sevennes and Alps. Very rarely stragglers are said to be killed near Montpellier.” Bailly states :—‘‘ it is very common during all the year in Savoy, in the large conifer forests of Maurienne, throughout all Tarantaise, Faucigny, particularly in the wooded valleys of Samoéns, Sixt, Chamounix, Passy, &c. It is also met with in the more lonely woods of the valley of Kparres, Grande-Chartreuse, and St.-Hugon. I have also killed it in the forest of Joigny, near Chambéry, in October 1849, and again in the same locality in 1850; but I may remark that it neither breeds here nor in the conifer woods of /Mlliat and Planet, above Saint-Cassin, where it is from time to time to be observed during its autumn and winter wanderings.” In Tuscany, Savi records it as “not uncommon in some of the mountains of Savoy and the Tyrol.” It is included by Bettoni among the birds which breed in Lombardy, where, however, it is stated to be rare and migratory ; more often found in the Alps. Malherbe says it is “ rare near Messina, but still it is found all the year in the forests of Sicily, particularly in the centre of the island. ; It is found throughout the forests of Switzerland, whence Sir W. Jardine has received it from Anderigg; and in the Canton of Freyburg it is not very rare, according to Dr. L. Brehm. Godron, in his ‘ Zoology of Lorraine,’ considers it rare there, more common in the Vosges, “ found in the woods round Nancy, and at Bitche, according to Malherbe.” Von Homeyer says, “ One or two pairs nest yearly near Seeligenstadt-on-the-Main, in Hesse Darmstadt; and it is said to have been common formerly in the forest near Frankfort.” “In Belgium,” writes De Selys-Longchamps, “‘ I have not observed it, but know of a bird killed in the large forest of Hertogenwald, near Verviers, on the Prussian frontier.” Schlegel says that in Holland it has been twice seen at Tivello, and has been shot near Groesbeck. Kjzrbolling considers it only an occasional visitant in Northern Denmark. Mr. R. Collett states that “near Christiania it is not rare, but is found throughout the year in most of our large conifer woods.” Nilsson says it is very rare in Southern Sweden, but commoner as one gets northward, occurring even within the limits of the polar circle, and as high up on the fells as the pine- forests extend. Herr Ludwig Holtz has recorded it from Gottland, where it is not rare; and in Lapland the late Mr. Wheelwright found it common. He writes :— “The Great Black Woodpecker was quite as common up here (Quickjock) as in the middle of Sweden. We took the first nest on the 5th of May, which is about two weeks later than we find them in the Wermland forests. As far as I can remark, five is the full number of eggs, which vary much in size, sometimes being very little larger than those of the Green Woodpecker, which bird I never saw in Lapland.” Dresser found it plentiful in Sweden. Blasius says that it is a resident, and breeds at Dromlinge, near Brunswick; and indeed throughout all Germany it appears to be found in places suited to its habits and mode of living. The following remarks as to its occurrence in Styria were published by the late Mr. Seidensacher :— 3 “Tt is found here, and is a resident, but is rare and widely diffused. It nests on the Leisberg and in the Stadtwald, and generally lays four eggs. If these are taken away time after time, the bird still continues to lay in the plundered nest-hole, and, in spite of being continually molested, uses it (contrary to the habits of other Woodpeckers) several successive years. At Neustadt, in Krain, eighteen eggs were taken from the same female from time to time out of two nest-holes, which it made use of at the same time by turns; and even after that it bored another one the same year and hatched three young ones.” Dr. Finsch considers it rare in Bulgaria; and Messrs. Elwes and Buckley, in their paper on the birds of Turkey, write :— “Found in the forests of Bulgaria, but nowhere numerous. We shot one in rather open country near Rassova, where only a few stunted oaks were found in the valleys. There can be no doubt that the pine-forests of the Balkan are a favourite resort of this bird; but we never saw or heard it in Macedonia.” In his paper on the birds of the Ionian Islands, Lord Lilford writes :— “TI saw two specimens of this Woodpecker at Santa Maura, which I was assured had been killed on the Black Mountain of Cephalonia. I caught a glimpse of a bird which IJ believe to have been one of this species, in a wood near the mouth of the river Drin, in December 1857.” Lindermayer says it is found in some of the higher mountain-ranges in Greece ; and Von der Miihle, in the forests of Roumelia. Mr. Strickland, in his list of birds observed in Asia Minor, says :—‘“ I saw a specimen of this bird in the possession of Mr. Zohrab, at Broussa. It was shot in the pine-forests of Mount Olympus.” Mr. Robson writes to us as follows :— “This species is not uncommon in Turkey in Europe and Asia Minor, inhabiting the dense old forests. Their principal haunts in the latter country are near Iniboli, Castamboul, Ismidt, Mount Olympus, &c.; they are also shot near Parryville, in Europe. Some of the specimens are of a deep black raven-colour; others are tinged with a rusty brown, due probably to age. They feed much on the large larve of beetles, also grubs and beetles found in old trees. ‘The skins of Woodpeckers are firmly attached to the flesh, especially on the lower back and legs. This peculiarity is most strongly exhibited in the present species, which, while resting on their hinder parts cleaving the bark with their strong head and bill in search of food, have a powerful leverage in their extremities. The sound of their bills can be heard at a great distance.” Professor von Nordmann states that it is “rare in the southern provinces of the Black Sea. It inhabits Volhynia and Podolia, and from time to time occurs in the north of Bessarabia. In 1836 I saw it on the mountains of Ghouriel.” Lehmann also obtained it on his journey to Bokhara ; and Dybowski and Parrex say that it is a common bird in Dauria. Radde writes as follows :—‘‘ Observed everywhere in the forests of South Siberia. At from 4000 to 5000 feet above the sea it becomes rare, and is not found in the region of the boundary of tree-vegetation, though P. major and P. minor are found here. It is a resident.” Dr. Middendorff likewise observes :—‘“‘I lost sight of it on the Jenesei, north of 62° north lat. It was common, however, in the Stanowoi mountains, and abundant at all seasons, also on the southern slope of the boundary mountains in Mantschuria.” T2 4 The following are Dr. von Schrenk’s notes :— “Not less commonly than Middendorff found this bird in the Stanowoi mountains and on their southern slope in Mantschuria, did I find it in the Amur country, and particularly to the north of the lower part of the Amur river, where dense conifer forests extend to the banks of the river and the sea-coast. Particularly in winter the stillness of these forests is broken by its tapping, both on the Amur river, the Amur Liman, and the coast of the Bay of Castries, and other places. I have also heard it in the forests of Saghalien, the upper and lower portions of the Tymy river, at Tschlowo, Miwwach, &c. In spite of the dense undisturbed wilderness, it is there a shy, suspicious bird. It seldom visits the edge of the forest and the habitations of the natives on the river; and directly I saw it there, it was off again. Thus I only once procured one, on the 3rd (15th) of December, at the mouth of the Amur; it was a female, not differing from the European bird. Comparatively early in the year, on the 2nd (14th) of March, I heard the male, on the Amur, making the drumming sound which it makes shortly before the pairing-time. It was in the forenoon of a bright mild day in March, near the village of Ssamahagdu, near the mouth of the Chelasso, where, in a forest of pine and leaf trees, I had for a long time followed a pair. Now a harsh cry, now a rattling, drumming noise sounded through the forest. Following the sound, I saw the birds several times, and could distinguish the male on the top of the highest trees, aspens and birches, making the drumming sound by repeated quick hard blows with his bill. Higher up the Amur, where deciduous trees only are found, I did not see it; and it pro- bably keeps to the conifer growth in the interior of the country.” The Great Black Woodpecker likewise occurs in Japan. Captain Blakiston, writing in ‘The Ibis’ on the ornithology of Northern Japan, states :— “In the woods were numbers of migratory Thrushes (Turdus fuscatus), the Great Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), other Black and White Woodpeckers, and a small species (Picus kisuki) sporting about in company with two or three kinds of Tits and the Nuthatch named at the head of this paragraph” (Sitta roseilia); and further on he says:—‘‘ My specimen of the Great Black Woodpecker of Europe was obtained from a native birdcatcher; but I several times saw the bird wild in the woods near Hakodadi.” Near Gefle, in Sweden, and in various parts of Finland, Dresser found this species not uncommon, and had opportunities of observing it almost daily. It is a shy bird, and only by using great caution is it possible to approach within gunshot. When they observe that they are followed they are careful to keep a tree between them and their pursuer; and when one gets to within fifty or sixty yards they fly off, uttering their loud call, kree, kree, kree, but seldom go far. As may be imagined from their size and powerful build, they tap the trees with good force; so that they can be heard at great distances, particularly in still weather, when they are engaged in attacking any large dead bough. ‘Their note, kree ah, kree ah, or kree, kree, kree, the latter quickly repeated, may often be heard, more particularly before rainy weather. The flight is swift though heavy, and is a succession of bow-shaped dips, like that of our Green Woodpecker. They are seldom seen to fly any great distance, seldom further than across a valley from one hill- side to another. Their food consists, we believe, entirely of insects, although they are said by some authors to devour berries and seeds at times. Dresser, at least, who has examined the contents of the stomachs of many of these birds, never found them to contain any thing else 5 but insect-remains. They appear to be particularly fond of ants, and in the winter often make holes in the large ant-hills which are to be seen everywhere in the forests of Scandinavia, and feast on the inhabitants. ‘They never attack any but a rotten tree, or one which the insects have begun to destroy, and are thus most useful and harmless birds. The nest-hole is generally bored in a large fir or aspen tree deep in the forests; but Dresser found the nest once in a huge aspen close to a much-frequented spring, again in a large pine tree overhanging a forest-road, and a third time in an old aspen not above a gun-shot from a house ; but in the last-named instance the birds were never disturbed or shot at, and had therefore become comparatively fearless. The nest-hole is generally deep, and is formed by the bird itself; the eggs, generally four in number, are pure white, very glossy, and measure from 1,55 inch in length by 1 inch in width to 13% by 13. In shape, judging from a series of eggs now before us out of Dresser’s collection, collected in Germany, Finland, and Sweden, they are generally rather pointed towards the smaller end, although one is equally pointed towards each end, and another is pure oval. One of the best descriptions of the nesting of this bird in Scandinavia is from the pen of Mr. W. H. Hudleston ; and we therefore give it in full. “Tn the districts south of the Great Lakes, especially towards the Baltic, the forests, though not so extensive as in the central and northern parts of the peninsula, still cover vast areas of the level surfaces, the remainder being largely occupied by lakes and morasses. Cultivation has not made much progress here; and as the sale of timber is most profitable to the proprietors, few but the woodcutter ever invade these regions. In the vicinity of settlements, or wherever there is facility of carriage, the trees are of second growth, and stand in blocks of various ages, divided by lanes often of great length and regularity. ‘There are, however, districts little touched by the axe, which are more exclusively delivered over to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field ; here the Wolf and the Glutton, not to mention Foxes in abundance, still dwell in snug lairs amongst the huge granite boulders that are matted over with a covering of heather, cranberry, and similar plants—quiet, gloomy spots, seldom reached by the sun, where the fir and the pine, the beech and black poplar, of all ages and sizes, are mingled in rank confusion. The mouldering remnants of past generations of trees lie prostrate on the ground, or lean for support against their more vigorous neighbours, thus forming a tangled mass by no means easy for man to penetrate, though much beloved by many of the Woodpeckers. Picus viridis is not to be found in such a locality; the old oaks in the open parts are more suited to his taste, where he may be seen in company with the Roller and the Hoopoe, the Jackdaw and Starling, the Creeper and Nuthatch. But for P. martius and P. major such a place as I have attempted to describe is admirably adapted, both on account of the abundance of soft and decaying timber, and likewise because there is little fear of molestation from mankind, in most countries the worst enemies of birds. No other of the five remaining Scandinavian Woodpeckers fell under my observation in the south of Sweden, though in a country so well suited for the Picidé it is to be expected that most of them occur, with the exception, perhaps, of P. tridactylus, which is a more northern species. “Towards the latter end of May 1856, I happened to be staying with a Dane, the overlooker of a large forest belonging to Count L , having been introduced to him by my companion, 6 who was likewise a Dane. When he heard that I had come all the way from England to find the ‘ Bo’ of the Spilkraka (P. martius), he sent for his chief woodman to inquire what chance there was of getting one. The woodman said that he had frequently seen birds throughout the spring, and had in former years even noticed their ‘ Bo,’ but that it was generally so high that nobody could get at it, that this year a pair of birds were known to frequent the edge of a clearing about four miles distant, and that, if we would accompany him early next morning, we might possibly discover the object of our search. ‘This was cheering intelligence, and caused us to make an early start. Our way lay chiefly through a monotonous wood of spruce firs, very uninteresting in appearance, and apparently destitute of any species of bird—so much so that my heart misgave me as to the success of our undertaking. But on crossing the clearing (a square of about 1000 yards), a Spilkraka was seen to slip quietly away from the upper part of a tall spruce to which he had been clinging, and to fly towards the far corner of the square, where he uttered a slight warning cry and disappeared. It took us a very short time to cross the remaining space in the direction he had gone; and it became speedily manifest that one object of our journey was obtained. We had found the ‘Bo’ without any difficulty, on the skirts of the clearing, where the ground was depressed somewhat below the general level; and not far from the edge of a marsh there stood the remains of an ancient birch some 30 feet in height, and slightly overhanging towards the opening. Near the top on our side was a fresh hole; but what was more to the purpose, from within that hole there peered the unmistakable head and bill of P. martius, gazing at the party without evincing much alarm. My first care was to prevent my companion from blowing to pieces, at the trifling distance of ten yards, that head so temptingly displayed before the muzzle of his gun. This point gained, a tap from the woodman’s axe caused the bird to retreat, when we commenced operations, pending which the old ones remained in the vicinity. Sometimes they would come within gunshot, and then, as if alarmed at their own audacity, swing round to the other side of the tree to which they might be clinging, poking so much of the head forwards as to enable them to see what was going on. In this position they would beat a rapid and angry tattoo upon the trees, and occasionally utter, in addition to their ordinary cry, one of the most peculiar notes I ever heard from any European bird, and which more resembles the sharp and momentary ring of a shrill-toned bell than any other sound with which I am acquainted. We heard this note subsequently whilst operating upon another nest ; but it appears not to be uttered except under great excitement, and then, perhaps, only by the female. The entrance-hole was within two feet of the top of the tree, which was easily ascended, the bark being very coarse. On examining it I found the edges much rougher than those of holes made by P. viridis, the sides sloping slightly upwards towards the interior. In shape it was elliptical, the horizontal being perhaps a fourth larger than the perpendicular diameter. The roof of the cavity was quite honeycombed by the strokes of the bird’s bill; and this pecu- liarity was noticed in the two nests subsequently discovered. The depth of the cavity below the entrance-hole was rather less than two feet, which was quite sufficient to prevent my ascertaining what lay at the bottom. An alarm that the old stump was giving way with my weight brought me very speedily to the ground. The woodman meanwhile cut down a young spruce and had it reared up against the ancient birch to prevent the anticipated catastrophe. He then went up himself and laid open the nest (being able to do so with his hands alone) so far as to introduce wt A if the whole of his arm into the cavity. To my intense delight he proclaimed that there were eggs at the bottom. I immediately ascended, in order to see them én situ; but that was impossible without further enlarging the hole, for which my fingers were not strong enough. The party below in the interval had rigged up a long pole with a cap attached to the end of it, in which I deposited the eggs, and then slipped down in time to receive them once more into my hands. They were five in number, one much fresher than the others, which were partially incubated, though on blowing them it was found that no feathers had been formed. In their smooth ivory texture these eggs very much resemble the well-known eggs of Picus viridis. The fresher one was of a glossy white, and sufficiently transparent to show the colour of the yelk; the others were slightly wood-stained, and presented a duller appearance, owing to their having been incu- bated. When blown, this difference is removed; but the wood-stains of course remain, and somewhat detract from their beauty. In shape they resemble eggs of P. vividis, and are not so much larger as I expected would be the case. “The hole was of this year’s making. However, the bird is not in the habit of always making a fresh hole, as I afterwards found out. Of the three inhabited nests discovered, two were new and one old. Our woodman had a theory that the Spilkraka occupies its ‘Bo’ during two successive years if not disturbed; and he thought that this identical pair were a young couple that had just set up for themselves. Chips, some of them half an inch in length, lay plentifully at the foot of the tree, giving the ground the appearance of the floor of a carpenter’s workshop. I was engaged in securing some of these as specimens of the Spilkraka’s workmanship, when a loud trumpeting sound was heard in the distance, announcing that a fresh excitement was in store for us. This was caused by a pair of Cranes, who presently came within sight, flying low across the- opening, and right down upon our position. All our party crouched, and my com- panion was in great hopes of bagging the brace, which he would have done but for a slight noise that caused the birds to swerve towards the left, where they disappeared in the direction of the marsh. We were following the line they had taken, but had not gone a hundred yards from the birch-tree, when the male Black Woodpecker, in his anxiety to see what had happened, flew upon it, and, after making two or three spirals round the trunk, slipped into the hole. Unluckily for him he came out again, and clung to the broken edge, in which position my companion, to my intense annoyance, fired at and brought him down. However, as there was no hope for it, I took the bird and had it skinned. We continued to follow the line of the Cranes until we arrived at the edge of the marsh ; but nobody was willing to accompany me further, and I thought it unadvisable to proceed alone, as the very first plunge took me up to the waist. ““We afterwards searched another part of the country in a different direction, where the forest was of a more varied character, one especial feature being the existence of occasional groups of ancient oaks, which stand somewhat after the fashion of ornamental timber in a park. They have been left when the rest of the wood was cleared away, and are apparently doomed to be the last of their race, as no young trees of the same species are growing up to succeed them. These oak-groves are full of Starlings, Jackdaws, and Stockdoves; besides which the Green Woodpecker, Roller, Creeper, and Nuthatch were also noticed. The Harfogel (Upupa epops) and the Gorktyta (Yune torquilla) also occur, and are said to breed in these places regularly. Some of the oak-groves are remarkably pretty spots, always refreshing to the eye wearied with 10 8 the sombre depths of the forest, as it rests upon the green turf beneath the picturesque old trees smiling in comparative sunshine, and generally studded with the wood-anemone amongst other flowers of the northern spring. However, there was no chance of finding the Spilkraka here; so I placed myself under the guidance of another woodman, who eventually brought me to a group of firs evidently frequented by a pair of P. martius; for we heard their now well-known cry, though unable to perceive them. My guide showed me a hole that had been inhabited the two preceding years; but, as it was some fifty feet up an immensely tall fir, I felt rather happy that the evident absence of the birds relieved me from the necessity of laying siege to that particular nest. Several of the trees were perforated; but we could not find out the right one. “On the following day the search for Picus martius was renewed, in a portion of the forest some seven miles to the north-west of the house, and where the ‘ Bo’ of the Glada (Milvus regalis) was also said to occur. We proceeded for several miles along one of the straight rides which traverse this forest, through what appeared in the distance to be a complete wall of pines. From a hut by the way a woodman was picked up, who proved a valuable recruit, and under whose guidance we turned off the ride to the left, following a slightly traced path which conducted to a clearing full of old oaks, similar to those previously mentioned. “The ground in many places hereabouts is very rough, and encumbered with masses of decayed and decaying timber, above which shoot very tall firs much mixed with black poplar. We found in the remains of an old birch the nest of Parus cristatus, my attention being first drawn to the tree by the uneasiness of the birds. On examining it more narrowly a hole was apparent, about the size of a penny, newly made, and within reach from the ground. I cut it open easily with a pocket-knife, and found young ones almost ready for flying; the crest was very strongly developed. After being fully inspected, they were restored to the tree, and the hole made up. Further on in this direction was a marsh with much underwood, said to contain Cranes, though none were seen or heard. ‘The chief feature, however, hereabout is the Hackspett (Picus major), which is numerous, and has a great partiality for the black poplar, here so abun- dant. The number of old holes bored in these trees is surprising. It is very possible also that Picus medius may have its share in this work, though I could not say with certainty that an example of that species came under our notice. ‘The woodman, however, told me that he knew two or three kinds of the Hackspett ; but unquestionably Picus major is the most numerous here. Two inhabited nests were discovered ; in one of these the cries of the young were plainly heard, so that we were spared the trouble of cutting it open. “‘Suddenly the attention of the party was arrested by the unmistakable cry of a Spilkraka. We continued to pursue the direction of the welcome sound until we arrived at a part of the forest not very far from the reported Crane-marsh, containing several tall poplars mixed with pine and fir. ‘There both the birds were seen; but as there were several old holes, though none of this year’s making, we scattered about in different directions, and then stopped to watch. After waiting for about an hour, one of the birds, which had evidently slipped in unobserved since our first sighting them, was seen to come out of a hole, by myself and two others, all from different points. We sprang up simultaneously, the alarm was given, and in a very short time the entire party was standing under the tree—a straight poplar, not far short of a hundred feet in height, and destitute of any thing that could fairly be called a branch, its upper parts being in 9 a broken and decayed condition. There were two old holes of the Spilkraka, both below the inhabited one, which was about thirty-five feet from the ground, and not of this year’s making. As the whole of the tree was perfectly smooth and very thick, there appeared no reasonable chance of climbing up, so as to use the axe with any effect; indeed the woodman shook his head at the very idea, and we knew if he could not manage it, no one else could. The over- looker was perfectly willing to allow the tree to be felled, as black poplar here is of no value ; but there was nothing against which it could be felled, and to bring such a mass at once to the ground would have been utter destruction to every thing in the nest. Nor was there any hope of getting a rope attached to the upper branches, which were quite untrustworthy. Altogether the prospect was very black indeed, and there seemed every probability that the second nest of P. martius would prove too difficult of access for us. A council of war was held, when it was agreed that nothing could be done that day, and that the matter should stand over for the present; but the woodman said he should return early in the morning and build a ladder on the spot sufficiently high to reach the ‘Bo.’ It was to be ready next day at noon, when all the party were to reassemble and assist in hoisting it. “Comforted by this assurance, we returned to a neighbouring forest settlement. Just at dusk a man living near came and reported a‘ Bo’ of the Spilkraka and another of the Hackspelt. To the latter I proceeded immediately, but on cutting it open found three young ones half fledged. “ Next morning an early start was made for the third Spilkraka’s ‘ Bo’ reported the previous evening. It was situated in a much thicker part of the wood than either of the others; indeed I am inclined to think, judging also from old nests, that this bird prefers to breed in the neighbourhood of some opening, whether caused by nature or the axe. The hole in this case was situated about halfway (twenty feet perhaps) up a dead fir. Being somewhat impatient on this occasion, I requested the man to fell the tree, which he did in the course of ten minutes, causing it fall with wonderful accuracy against one of its neighbours which he had selected ; but the weight was too great, and both came to the ground with an awful crash. On going up to the hole young ones were heard, but could not be reached without our further enlarging it. The cavity of this nest was an inch or two over two feet from the honeycombed roof to the base on which the young had rested; these, together with much of the sawdust, had been thrown forward, but singularly enough, though stunned, they were not killed by the concussion. Had there been eggs, they must, I think, have been broken to pieces. There was a considerable quantity of sawdust, which had the appearance of sand, the particles being much finer than those of the nest in the birch tree. Three birds were all the nest contained; they seemed to have been hatched about four days. As there was no hope now for them, they were put into spirits, and afterwards given with several others to my friend Mr. John Wolley, to whose suggestions the results of this expedition were chiefly due. ‘he old birds did not exhibit the usual amount of anxiety; but just before we left the female suddenly appeared and clung to a tree within fifteen yards of our heads, where she remained for a few moments, and then swung round to the other side, from which position she kept peeping at us, as is their wont, but without uttering the peculiar cry. “There now remained the second nest, the taking of which was still doubtful, as I was U Il nN 10 determined on no account to have the tree felled, after the results in the last instance. Noon found us all assembled, and the ladder quite ready. It was an ingenious affair, constructed of two young fir trees, joined at intervals of four feet by cross bars passing through the flanks, beyond which they projected some distance. There was neither nail nor peg in it, and the whole had been made on the spot by the woodman and his comrade with axe and borer. The length of it was about forty feet. Nothing now remained but to rear it. This was done, after the thin end of the ladder had been placed against the tree, by means of two notched poles, which were fitted, one into either flank of the ladder, as it rested. The flanks were then gradually raised, each by two men, whilst the others pushed against the heavy end; so that as the first four increased the elevation of the ladder, the second party kept diminishing the distance between its base and the base of the tree upon which the weight was principally thrown, until the ladder itself stood at an angle of about 80° from the ground with the top round still under the hole.. The woodman then went up, and announced, to my dismay, that there were young ones in this nest also. After satisfying myself, by inspection, of the truth of his statement, I directed him to enlarge the hole sufficiently for us to see what they were like, which he proceeded to do, after first securing the top of the ladder by means of a rope. Before this was done, the ascent was very ticklish work. The axe revealed to us four young ones, half-grown and very vicious, being well able and willing to use their bills upon intruding fingers. One was taken, to secure a specimen of the bird in this stage, which was not much after all our trouble; the other three were left poking their ugly heads out of the window so unceremoniously made in their habitation. The rope was then untied, the ladder thrown down and broken, and the storming party prepared to move off to different parts of the forest, according to their several destinations. The old ones meanwhile had never ceased to ring their alarm note, and angrily tap the neighbouring trees; but before we lost sight of the well-known spot, I was pleased to see the mother boldly re-enter her violated abode to comfort her astonished but undaunted offspring, who suffered, I am inclined to believe, no further inconvenience from our visit beyond a slight increase of air and light into their apartment. “Some days afterwards I returned to the very place in company with Mr. Wolley, who was desirous of visiting this wonderful Woodpecker locality, where the tall poplars have been bored on all sides during so many succeeding years. The broken ladder lay at the foot of the tree, which itself bore marks of the recent axe; but no young ones looked out upon the intruder, no old ones rang out the alarm-note from amongst the neighbouring trees. The family had gone, and the forest was silent.” Respecting this bird’s habits in Norway, Mr. Robert Collett, of Christiania, writes us that “When on the wing it utters a rattling loud cry, something like krrr, krrr, krrr, &c.; and when it settles on a tree it cries kli-yh, kli-yh, always using the same note when on the wing, and the same when sitting. In the autumn and winter it lives chiefly on ants (Mormica rufa), digging far into the ant-hills after those that are torpid deep inside the hill. During the summer it hunts on the rotten and insect-eaten trees and stumps for larve of Rhagium indigator, and devours quantities of Bostrichus octodentatus. On the fell-sides it does not occur above the tree growth. If its eggs are taken, and one or two left, it continues to lay fresh ones; and I know of fourteen eggs having thus been deposited in the same nest, the last of these only fal measuring 26 millims. x 20 millims. The first eggs are generally laid about the 28th of Apzil. ‘Tike other Woodpeckers it wanders to some distance in the autumn, and is often seen in groves near habitations outside the town. It is almost always found in pairs, in the autumn, however, in families; but one never sees several close together. ‘They are difficult to approach within gunshot, and this is more particularly the case as regards the male.” The following account has been published by Dr. Kriiper :— “In the large forests of Pomerania it is common; near Ueckermiinde, where the pines are rare, I often found it getting its food at ant-hills by the roadside. It nests both in foliage and conifer woods, boring its nest-hole sometimes high and sometimes lower, from twenty to sixty feet, and in such trees as are rotten inside. The entrance is not round, like those of other Woodpeckers, and is generally so large that a man can put his arm in. Hitherto I have never had to enlarge the hole as my friend Mr. Hausmann has had to do several times in these parts. The hole is below very roomy, and sometimes about a foot deep, but often twice as deep. In Pomerania this Woodpecker commences to bore its nest late in March or early in April; but, according to circumstances, the nesting is later. Thus I discovered on the 22nd April, 1852, two pairs so busy in forming their nest, that I could walk under the tree and hear the dull knocking inside. ‘They lay in the middle of April; and I have found eggs on the 13th, 17th, 21st, and 25th April; sometimes, however, later, as, for instance, in 1852 and 1853, when the breeding-time of all birds was so irregular. On the 8th May I found four fresh eggs; and another pair near had not laid, whereas in another locality I found on the following day half-grown young. ‘“« According to the locality where this Woodpecker dwells it is during the breeding-season either shy or bold. Thus the female from which I took the eggs on the 21st of April, 1848, left the nest directly, and did not venture near again; on the other hand, on the 21st of April, 1851, a female would not leave the nest, though we knocked on the trunk and threw up stones, until the tree was climbed. After we had taken the four eggs, the bird flew in again, and would not be driven out by knocking. “‘ Forsaken Woodpeckers’ nests serve as nesting-places during the summer to the Stock Dove, the Roller; later on as retreats for the Squirrels, or sleeping-places for the Green and Spotted Woodpeckers, as well as other birds. Thus, as Dr. Gloger most truly remarks about this Wood- pecker, it does carpenter’s work not only for itself, but for many other animals.” According to Naumann it subsists not only on all sorts of larvee found under the bark of trees, but is also partial to ants, feeding on the large race, Formica herculeana, as also on the smaller ones, F. fusca and F. rufa, and their larve. It is particularly fond of larve of Sire gigas, Cerambyx, Lamia, &c., beetles, and larve of Bostrichus, Hylesinus, Spondylis, &c., as also the larve of many insects which are found in wood, as, for instance, Cossus ligniperda, of which several have been found in its stomach at one time. It is said to feed on bees, and to do harm to the wild-bee swarms of the Bashkirs, near the Ufa River, necessitating steps to prevent its ravages amongst them. Bechstein is said to have found conifer-seeds in its stomach, and states that it feeds on nuts and berries; but this Naumann doubts, as he failed to discover this in his investigations. Much uncertainty has always shrouded the record of this bird’s capture in England, and u 2 12 many of the supposed instances of its occurrence have been disproved. We therefore applied to our friend Mr. John Henry Gurney, jun., to whom we are indebted for much laborious work undertaken with a view to a careful analysis of the claims of rare birds to be included in the British list, and we feel sure that the accompanying exhaustive account of the Great Black Wood- pecker in Great Britain will be received with the greatest interest :— “Although Sir R. Sibbald claims Picus martius as a bird of Scotland in his ‘ Historia Animalium in Scotia’ (1684), bk. i. p. 14, there can be no doubt that he uses the term ‘Picus martius’ for Woodpeckers generally, as is suggested by Mr. Buxton in the ‘ Zoologist’ (p. 9730); and I may add that Sir Thos. Brown (1682) uses it in the same sense. “The Great Black Woodpecker was added to the catalogue of British Birds in the following vague terms by Latham :—‘I have heard mention made of this species having been once seen in the southern parts of this kingdom; and Mr. Tunstall tells me that he has been informed, by a skilful ornithologist, of its being sometimes seen in Devonshire. —Suppl. to Gen. Synopsis, p. 104. “Latham probably took his authority for this latter statement from the Tunstall MS., which Headlam discovered, and Fox printed (The Newcastle Museum, p. 60). “Montagu says he had heard that one was shot on a willow tree in Battersea fields (Dict. Suppl.). This is commented upon (Zool. p. 9730); but the writer does not notice the fact of Battersea being even then far too populous a neighbourhood for such a forest-loving bird as Picus martius. “Dr. Richard Pulteney, in his Catalogue of Birds in Dorsetshire, appended to Hutchins’s History, says (p. 6):— “