WOODPECKERS. 559 



middle feathers not spotted at the extremity, as are the 

 rest. The bill is stouter and higher at the base appar- 

 ently than in our common kinds. The nakedness and 

 superior length of the tarsus, so different from the two 

 preceding species, appears to have afforded an exclusive 

 unmodified generic trait to the founder of the genus, 

 which we have endeavoured to remedy by sectional divi- 

 sions. The definition of C. vetula by Linnaeus, " be- 

 neath testaceous, above brownish, with red eyebrows," 

 induced Mr. Abbot, on the authority of Latham,* to quote 

 the vetula as an inhabitant of Georgia (our C. domini- 

 cus) ; and there is little doubt but Linnaeus described from 

 this species, so wholly different from that assumed as 

 such by Latham (the Tacco), which has never yet been 

 seen within the boundaries of the United States. If the 

 synonyme of Linnaeus had not been so embroiled by 

 Latham, we should not have hesitated to give the name 

 of vetula to Wilson's C. erythrophthalma. 



2d. Family. (Sagittilingues. Uliger. JBonap.) 



In these the bill is generally long, straight, conic, and edged. 

 ThexoxGUE is also extremely long, capable of great extension, sharp 

 and rigid at the point, and armed at the edges with stiff reversed 

 bristles. The 4 toes are always disposed in opposite pairs, 2 before 

 and 2 behind } rarely there exists but a single hind toe. 



PICUS. Lin. (Woodpeckers.) 



The BILL long, or moderate, usually straight, pyramidal, compress- 

 ed, cuneate, and edged like scissars towards the point ; above, in gen- 

 eral, straightly carinated. Nostrils basal, oval, open, though part- 

 ly hidden by the advancing bristly feathers of the face. Feet short 

 and robust, suited for climbing; hind toes divided; the outer inca^ 

 pable of being reversed, the inner toe minute or rarely wantino-; the 

 two anterior ones united at the base. Wings, moderate in length, 



* Suppl.vol. ii. p. 135. No. 5. 



