ol8 SCANSOKES. 



FAMILY III. 



PiciD/E. TJce Woodjjeckers. 



Gen. Charac— Bill generally lengthened, acute, and straight, with the base 

 more or less broad, and the sides much compressed towards the tip, which 

 is usually obtuse. 



Tlie birds of this family liave a ratlier lon^^ straight 

 bill, of wliich the tip is commonly obtuse or trun- 

 cated, and tlie sides marked witli a longitudinal 

 ridge.* Their feet are organized for running upon 

 the bark of trees, being furnished with long spreading 

 toes, armed at the extremity with strong sharp 

 curved claws, which enable them readily to seize 

 any small inequality of the bark ; whilst the tarsus 

 is so placed as to form a sort of sole, which gives 

 the bird great firmness in its usual position. The 

 tail also is of service in climbing ; for this purpose 

 it is rather short, and composed of stiff feathers, 

 pointed at their extremities, which are generally 

 more or less worn away. These birds, especially 

 the more typical species (for some, as we shall see, 

 differ from the rest in their habits), reside in the 

 woods and forests of both hemispheres, principally 

 in the warmer regions. They run with great 

 activity and in every direction upon the trunks and 

 branches of trees, searching for the insects that con- 

 stitute the greater part of their food, and may be 

 constantly seen tapping the bark with their bills, in 

 order to discover soft or rotten places, such as are 

 usually inhabited by bark-feeding insects. On 

 meeting with a favourable spot, they immediately 

 dig vigorously into the bark, and seize the insects 

 or larvae concealed beneath. The capture of the 

 smaller insects is effected by means of their tongue, 

 which, with its appurtenances, exhibits a beautiful 

 structure. For the capture of the smaller insects, 



* See " Animal Creation," page 439. 



