THE WOODPECKERS. 133 



its young; these holes vary in depth, according to 

 circumstances, from six inches to nearly three feet. 

 In its usually upright position against the body of 

 the tree, it must necessarily lie pretty close in order 

 to work to advantage ; hence the legs are short and 

 muscular, and the toes, which are arranged two hefore 

 and two behind, are well calculated to take a firm 

 hold upon the bark and retain it for a long time. 

 This upright position of the body is also more stead- 

 ily maintained by the assistance of the tail, which is 

 somewhat wedge-shaped, the more central feathers 

 being more rigid, and having the shafts very thick, 

 and stout, and sharp pointed, which, when placed 

 against the trunk of the tree, serve as a support. The 

 flight of the Woodpeckers is also singular, consisting 

 of a frequent repetition of a few rapid and powerful 

 strokes of the wings, which produce an undulating 

 motion through the air, the body rising and falling 

 with the alternate opening and closing of the wings. 

 They are sprightly and active in their motions, alight- 

 ing upon a tree and moving around the whole circum- 

 ference, backvjard and forward, or ascending spirally 

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