PICID^: WOODPECKERS. 479 



Species are abundant in all the wooded portion of this country, and wherever found are 

 nearly resident. For, although insectivorous, they fctxl principally upon dormant or at least 

 stationary insects, and therefore need not migrate ; they are, moreover, hardy birds. They dig 

 insects and their liirvae out of trees, and are eminently beneficial to the agriculturist and fruit- 

 grower. Contrary to a prevalent impression, their boring does not seem to injure fruit-trees, 

 which may be riddled with holes without harmful result. The number of noxious insects these 

 birds destroy is simply incalculable ; what little fruit some of them steal is not to be mentioned 

 in the same connection, and they deserve the good-will of all. The birds of the genus Sphy- 

 ropicus are probably an exception to most of these statements. But W(X>dpeckers also feed 

 largely upon nuts, berries, and other fruits ; and those which thus vary their fare to the greatest 

 extent are apt to be more or less migratory, like the common Ked-head for example. Wood- 

 peckers nest in holes in trees, which they excavate for theniselves, sometimes to a great depth, 

 and lay numerous rounded pure white eggs, of which the shell has a smooth crystalline texture 

 like porcelain, on the chips and dust at the bottom of the hole. The voice is loud and harsh, 

 susceptible of little modulation. The plumage as a rule presents bright colors in large areas or 

 in striking contrasts, and is somethnes highly lustrous. The sexes are ordinarily distinguishable 

 by color-marliings ; the young either show sexual characters from the nest, or have special 

 markings of their own. 



Artificial Analysis of N'. A. Genera of Picidoe. 



Toes 3 Picoides 153 



Toes 4. 



Tongue not decidedly extensible. 



Body entirely black ; head \yhite Xenopicus 152 



Body variegated ; head not white Sphyropicus 154 



Tongiie very extensible. 



Conspicuously crested ; much over a foot long. 



Bill white ; outer hind toe longer than outer front toe CampepliUus 149 



Bill dark; outer hind toe not longer than outer front toe Hylotomus 150 



Not crested ; a foot long or less. • 



Sides of upper mandible distinctly ridged ; wings spotted Picus 151 



Sides of upper mandible indistinctly or not ridged. 



Back lustrous green; belly carmine Asyndesmus 157 



Back blue-black ; belly white Melanerpes 150 



Back black-barred ; belly black-spotted ( 'olaptes 158 



Back black-barred ; belly not spotted Centurus 155 



L49. CAMPE'PHILUS. (Gr. Kafm-q, kampe, a caterpillar; c^tXor, philos, loving.) Ivory-bills. 



Of largest size, with very strict neck, conspicuously crested head and white bill ; color black, 

 with white on wings and neck, and scarlet crest. Bill longer than head, perfectly straight, 

 with truncate tip, bevelled sides, with strong ridges ; broader than high at the base. Gonys 

 very long ; more than half the commissure. Nostrils concealed by large nasal tufts ; antrorse 

 feathers also at base of lower mandible. Outer hind toe much the longest. Wings pointed ; 

 4th, 3d and 5th quills longest ; 2d much shorter ; 1st very short and narrow. Tail very cuneate. 

 Containing the largest and most magnificent kn(jwn Woodpeckers, of several species, peculiar 

 to America. 

 431. C. principa'lis. (Lat. principalis, principal ; princeps, chief. Fig. 329.) Tvory-billed 

 Woodpecker. ^ 9 : Glossy blue-black ; a stripe down side of neck, one at base of bill, the 

 scapulars, under wing-coverts, ends of secondaries and of inner primaries, the bill, and nasal 

 feathers white ; feet grayish-blue ; iris yellow. A long pointed crest, in the <J scarlet faced with 

 black, in the 9 black. Length 19.00-21.00 ; extent 30.00-33.00 ; wing 9.75-10.75 ; tail 7.00- 

 8.00; bill 2.50 ; tarsus 2.00. Varies much in size ; 9 smaller than the ^. A large powerful 

 bird of the S. Atlantic and Gulf States, N. to No. Carolina along the coast, to the Ohio River in 

 the interior ; common in the dark heavily wooded swamps, but very wild and wary, and difficult 

 to secure. Nests high in the most inaccessible trees ; eggs about 6, 1.35 X 1-00. 



