THE GREEN WOODPECKER. 295 



The admirable adaptation of the structure of the 

 Woodpecker to its mode of life is well pointed out hy 

 Yarrell.* Its sharp, hooked toes, pointing two each 

 way, are eminently fitted for climbing and clinging. 

 The keel of the breast-bone is remarkably shallow ; 

 hence, when ascending (its invariable mode of progress) 

 a tree, it is enabled to bring its body close to the trunk 

 Avithout straining the muscles of the legs. Its tail is 

 short, and composed of unusually stiff feathers, which in 

 the jDrocess of climbing are pressed inwards against the 

 tree, and contribute greatly to its support. The beak 

 is strong and of considerable length, and thus fitted either 

 for digging into an ant-hill or sounding the cavities of a 

 tree; and the tongue, which is unusually long, is fui-nished 

 with a curious but simple apparatus, by which it is ex- 

 tended so that it can be thrust into a hole far beyond the 

 point of the biU, while its tip is barbed with small 

 filaments, which like the teeth of a rake serve to pull up 

 the larva or insect into its mouth. The Woodpecker 

 builds no nest, but lays five or six glossy white eggs on 

 the fragments of the decayed wood in Mdiich it has 

 excavated its nest. 



Other names by which this bird is known are Poppinjay, 

 Woodsprite, Eain-bird, Hew-hole and Woodwall. 



THE GEEAT WOODPECKER. 



PICUS MAETIUS- 



Plumage black, Avith the exception of the upper part of the head, which is 

 bright red. Length seventeen inches. Eggs glossy white. 



Of this bird a few specimens only have been observed in 

 England, nor does it appear to be of common occurrence in 

 any part of the south of Europe. In the forests of the 

 north it is more abundant, where its " habits differ in 

 nothing material from those of the Green Woodpecker. 



* British Birds, vol. ii. p. 138. 



