piciD^. 325 



almost as strong and hard as steel, terminated by a 

 sharp, chisel-like extremity, wherewith, by repeated 

 blows, the bird strikes off the bark of trees, and 

 lays bare the insidious grubs beneath. 



" All Woodpeckers are extremely expert at dis- 

 covering insects in their lurking-places. No sooner 

 have they alighted, than they stand for a few moments 

 motionless and listening. If no movement is heard 

 beneath the bark, the Woodpecker gives a smart 

 rap ^ath its bill, and bending its neck sideways, 

 lays its head close to the tree, when the least crawl- 

 ing motion of a beetle, or even of a larva, is instantly 

 discovered, and the bird forthwith removes the bark, 

 and continues to dig until it reaches its prey, when 

 it secures and swallows it. This mode of obtaining 

 food is obsei'ved particularly during the winter, 

 when few forest fruits are to be found. Woodpeckers 

 are, however, by no means restricted to insect diet ; 

 cherries, peaches, pears, apples, figs, mulberries, and 

 even peas, constitute a considerable part of their 

 nourishment. They likewise suck the eggs of small 

 birds, and thus sometimes commit serious depreda- 

 tions.''^ — Audubon. 



The type of this sub-family is — 



The Greater Spotted Woodpecker {Ficus major), deli- 

 neated above. 



Q- 



