piciD^. 331 



and a rounded, sliglitly-arclied, and pointed beak, 

 resembling that of tlie Cuckoos. They differ 

 from the preceding Woodpeckers in having their 

 tongues much less extensible, and also, in many of 

 their habits. They are very generally seen upon 

 the ground, and do not climb trees, although they 

 sometimes cling to their trunks by means of their 

 claws, but without changing their position ; never- 

 theless, they perch readily upon the branches, and 

 leap with facility from one twig to another ; indeed 

 they may sometimes be seen upon tall shrubs, upon 

 the berries of which they feed with avidity, notwith- 

 standing that insects and worms constitute their 

 principal diet. They usually frequent coppices ; they 

 will approach villag*es during .the winter, but in the 

 spring they withdraw into the forests, where they 

 avail themselves of the holes of other Woodpeckers 

 in which to build theii' nests, seeing that they are 

 without the means of excavating them for themselves. 



These birds are found in North and South 

 America, the West Indies, and South Africa. They 

 may be seen on the ground, examining the manure 

 of cattle for insects, or turning over the hillocks of 

 ants, which yield their favourite food. Occasionally 

 they frequent trees for ants that make their nests in 

 them, and penetrate decayed or dead branches in 

 search of wood-lice and the larv^ of insects. They 

 live likewise on fruits, seeds, and grains. Their 

 flight is strong and prolonged. They propel them- 

 selves by numerous beats of the wings, with short 

 intervals of sailing, during which they generally 

 keep in a straight line. The nature of their chief 

 food causes them to migrate from place to place. 

 The female lays six eggs, which she deposits in the 

 hole of a tree, on chips and dust of wood. The 

 young soon leave the nest, and are enticed by the 

 parents to the highest branches, where they are 

 assiduously fed. 



The type of this sub-family is — 



The Golden-winged Woodpecker {Cola^otes auratus). 



