872 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



"Of these subfamilies the rirhuF alone occur north to Mexico. 

 The Jimgina, to which the well-known W'rjTieck of England {Jyni 

 torqnUla) belongs, are exclusively Old World; the Pi<'HmHi;up belong 

 principallj" to the tropical regions of America, although a few species 

 occur in Africa and India." (Hist. X. Am. B.) 



The North American Picina may for convenience of identification 

 be divided into the following groups : — 



DryobatesB. Bill vnrlnble in lpn(?th; the outllneRabove and below nearly 

 straight: the ends tnineiited; n prominent rldROon the side of the mandible 

 sprlncinB from llie middle of tlie base, or o little below, and runnioK out 

 elthi'r on the commissure, or extendinc parallel to and a Utile above It. to 

 the end. sometimes obllterateil or confluent with the lateral bevel of the 

 1)111. Nostrils considerably overhiinK by the lateral rldgc, more or less 

 linear, and concealed by thick bushy tufts of feathers at the base of the bill. 

 Outer posterior toe Kenerally lonB<'r than the anterior. 



Helanerpese. Bill rather Iouk: the outlines, that of the culmen especially. 

 dicidcdly curved. The lateral riilKc muchnearest the culmen, and, thouuh 

 (luite distinct at the base. disappcarinK before cominc to the lower ed^e of 

 the mandible; not overhanging the nostrils, which are broadly oval, 

 rounded anteriorly, and not concealed by the bristly feathers at the base. 

 Outer pair of toes nearly eiiuni; the anterior rather longer. . 



Colapteee. Bill rather long, much depressed, and the upper outline much 

 curved to the acutely pointed (not truncate) tip. The commi.ssure con- 

 siderably curved. Bill without any ridges. The nostrils broadly oval and 

 much exposed. Anterior outer toe longest. 



The preceding diagnoses will sei"ve to distinguish the three groups 

 sufficiently for our present pui-poses ; the bill being strongest in the 

 Dryohatcie and best fitted for cutting into trees by its more perfect 

 wedge-shape, Avith strengthening ridges, as well as by the lateral 

 beveling of both mandibles, which are nearly equal in thickness at 

 the base, and with their outlines nearly straight. The lateral ridge 

 is prominent, extending to the edge or end of the bill, and over- 

 hangs the nostrils, which are narrow and hidden. The Mclanerpe<e and 

 the Colapteee have the upper mandible more curved (the commissure 

 hkewise), the lower mandible smaller and weaker, the bill with 

 httle or no lateral beveUng. The nostrils are broadly oval and 

 exposed. In the former, however, there is a distinct lateral ridge 

 visible for a short distance from the base of the bill ; while in the 

 other there is no ridge at all, and the mandible is greatly curved. 



In all the species of North American Woodpeckers, there is more 

 or less red on the head in the male, and frequently in the female. 



