outer feathers marked with white spots; the throat, breast, and part of the belly yellowish white; the vent and lower part of the belly crimson; legs and feet lead grey. The female has not the red spot on the back of the head.

This bird is common in England. Buffon says that it strikes against the trees with brisker and harder blows than the Green Woodpecker. It creeps with great ease in all directions upon the branches of trees, and is with difficulty seen, as it instantly avoids the sight by creeping behind a branch, where it remains concealed.

THE MIDDLE-SPOTTED WOODPECKER. (Picus medius, Linn.-Le Pic variè a Tête Rouge, Buff.)

THIS is a dubious species: it is described as being somewhat less than the former, and differs from it chiefly in having the top of the head wholly crimson; in every other respect the colours are much the same, though more obscure. Buffon gives a figure of it in his Planches Enluminees, but considers it as only a variety of the former; others affirm that it is the young. Temminck arranges it as a distinct species, but does not mention this country as one of its habitats.

(Picus minor, Linn.-Le petit Epeiche, Buff.)

THIS is the smallest of the British Woodpeckers, being only five inches and a half in length; weight nearly one ounce. Its general plumage is black and white, like that of the Pied Woodpecker, but without the red at the vent and under the tail; it also differs from that bird in having its back and scapulars barred with white and black. It is prettily barred with white spots on the tips of the lesser and greater coverts, and the secondaries; the primaries have much the same appearance, from the indented white spots with which they are crossed. The crown of the head is crimson; cheeks, throat, and sides of the neck white, but divided by an irregular black stripe, which falls down

with a few spots of

from the corners of the mouth, and pointing forward, crosses the fore part of the neck, the hinder part of which is also black from the nape to the shoulders; the under parts of the body are dirty white; the outside feathers of the tail white, black; the legs lead colour. winter it draws near houses and vineyards, that it shelters in holes of trees, and sometimes disputes possession with the Coal Titmouse, which it compels to give up its lodging.*

Buffon says, that in

Another British species, the Hairy Woodpecker, (Picus Villosus) has been described by authors, but we have never been able to obtain a specimen of it.

(Sitta europea, Linn.-La Sittelle ou le Torchepot, Buff.)

THE length is near six inches; bill strong, black above, beneath almost white; the eyes hazel; a black stroke passes over each eye, from the bill, extending down the side of the neck as far as the shoulder; all the upper part of the body is of a fine blue grey; the cheeks and chin white; breast and belly of a pale orange; sides marked with streaks of chesnut; quills dusky; the tail is short, the two middle feathers grey, the rest dusky, three of the outermost spotted with white; legs pale yellow; claws large, sharp, and much

bent, the back claw very strong; when extended the foot measures one inch and three quarters.

This, like the Woodpecker, frequents woods, and is a shy and solitary bird: the female lays her eggs, which are white, with a few pale brown spots, in holes of trees, frequently in those which have been deserted by the Woodpecker. The nest is fitted up with layers of the very thin flakes or laminæ of the bark of the Scotch fir. During the time of incubation, she is easily driven from her nest, and on being disturbed, hisses like a snake. The Nuthatch feeds on caterpillars, beetles, and various kinds of insects; it likewise eats nuts, and from its expertness in cracking them has obtained its name: having placed a nut fast in a chink, it takes its stand a little above, and striking it with all its force, perforates the shell and picks out the kernel; when disturbed at its work, it very readily removes the nut and flies away with it. In the same way it also breaks into the very hard shells of the stone pine. Like the Woodpecker, it moves up and down the trunks of trees with great facility, in search of food. It does not migrate, but in the winter approaches nearer inhabited places, is sometimes seen in orchards and gardens, and is fond of picking bones.