WOODPECKERS AND THEIR WAYS. 339 



planted, as a wide knowledge and a deeper love show such changes 

 to be wise. But every detail of method has the one purpose, and 

 this never changes — the unfolding and the perfecting of human 

 nature. It is the search for human power through the perfecting 

 of the human organism. 



WOODPECICERS AND THEIR WAYS. 



By WILLIAM EVERETT CRAM. 



"XTT^OODFECKERS as a class form one of the most striking and 

 V V easily distinguished groups of birds, the entire family con- 

 forming to a certain type to a remarkable degree. Probably each 

 of the three hundred species could be safely described as a vigorous, 

 muscular, heavy-bodied bird, with long wings, close-fitting plumage, 

 and a strong, stiletto-shaped beak. Their legs and feet, like those 

 of the parrots, cuckoos, etc., formerly placed in the same order, are 

 short and stout, with the outer toe turned backward parallel with 

 the hind toe as an aid in climbing. In certain species, however, this 

 outer toe is entirely wanting. 



Their peculiar method of gaining a livelihood has developed a 

 tongue perfectly adapted to their requirements; it is pointed and 

 barbed at the tip for securing the larger insects, and is kept con- 

 stantly coated with a mucous substance to which the smaller ones 

 adhere. At the back of the mouth it divides, and passing each side of 

 the neck at the base of the skull is carried up over the top of the 

 head, where the two portions join and are inserted in the right nostril. 

 In the common hairy woodpecker, and possibly some others, it curves 

 downward, and is wound about the bony case which protects the right 

 eye, the latter projecting more than the left for its accommodation. 

 This double bow enables the bird to shoot forward and contract the 

 barbed tip Avith wonderful velocity, while the mucus is applied each 

 time from two large glands at each side of the throat. 



In the autumn, when the last generation of aphides spreads itself 

 over every leaf and twig in the forest, woodpeckers may frequently 

 be seen engaged to all appearances in licking up these diminutive 

 insects from their resting places, their long tongues giving them a 

 decided advantage over other birds in this pursuit, for woodpeckers 

 are not the only birds that find aphides palatable in spite of their 

 small size — not only the warblers, but purple finches and others, 

 generally supposed to be fruit-eaters, apparently depending to a cer- 

 tain extent on this delicate fare. 



The family colors are black and white and red in sharply 

 contrasting patterns, though some members of the group that have 



