Order XV. WOODPECKERS. 



PICI. 



Family 1. WOODPECKERS. PicrM. 24 species, 22 sub- 

 species. 



The some three hundred and fifty known species of Woodpeckers are 

 distributed throughout the wooded parts of the world, except in Aus- 

 tralia and Madagascar, nearly one half of this number being found in 

 the New World. Feeding largely upon the eggs and larvae of insects, 

 which they can obtain at all seasons, most of the North American 

 species are not highly migratory but are represented in the more north- 

 ern parts of their range at all times of the year. 



Woodpeckers nest in holes in trees generally excavated by them- 

 selves. The eggs, four to eight or nine in number, like those of most 

 birds that lay in covered situations, are pure white. The young are 

 born naked and are reared in the nest. 



In few birds is the close relation between structure and habit more 

 strikingly illustrated than in the Woodpeckers. Their lengthened toes 

 placed two before and two behind (except in one genus) and armed 

 with strong nails enable them readily to grasp the bark of trees up 

 which they climb. Their stiffened, pointed tail-feathers are also of 

 assistance to them in retaining their position on tree trunks, serving as 

 a prop on which they may rest while chiseling out their homes or lay- 

 ing bare the tunnels of the grubs of wood boring beetles. For this 

 purpose they use their bill, a marvellously effective tool with which 

 some of the large Woodpeckers perform astonishing feats. I have 

 seen an opening made by a Pileated Woodpecker in a white pine tree, 

 twelve inches long, four inches wide, and eight inches deep, though 

 perfectly sound wood to reach the larvae at work in the heart of the 

 tree. The bill is also used as a musical instrument, the 'song' of 

 Woodpeckers being a rolling tatoo produced by rapid tappings on 

 some resonant limb. 



As might be supposed the Woodpeckers are great of economic value. 

 Professor Beal states that at least two-thirds to three-fourths of the 

 food of our common Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers consists chiefly 

 of noxious insects. 



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