678 SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — PICARLE — PICI. 



extremes of the subfamily ; the little diversity of which is thereby evident. One of our genera, 

 without very obvious external peculiarities, stands apart from the rest in the character uf the 

 tongue. In ordinary Picince tlie " horns " of the tongue are extraordinarily produced backward, 

 as slender jointed bony rods curling up over the skull behind, between the skin and the bone, 

 to the eyes or even farther; these rods are enwrapped in highly developed, specialized muscles, 

 by means of which the birds thrust out the tongue sometimes several inches beyond the bill 

 (lies. 73, 74). This is not the case in Sphifropicus, where the hyoid cornua do not extend be- 

 yond the base of the skull, and the tongue, consequently, is but little more extensible than in 

 ordinary birds. The tongue of Sphyropicus is beset at the end by numerous brushy filaments, 

 instead of the few acute barbs commonly observed in the family. Tlie same or a similar con- 

 dition of the parts is observed in Xenopicus. In most of our species the bill is perfectly straight, 

 wide and stout at the base, tapering regularly to a comjiressed and vertically truncate tip, chisel- 

 like, and strengthened by sharp ridges on the side of the upper mandible — an admirable tool 

 for cutting into trees ; and in all such, the nostrils are hidden by dense tufts of antrorse feathers. 

 In others, like the Flicker, the bill is smooth and barely curved ; the tip is acute and the nostrils 

 are exposed. There is a regular gradation in form between those with the most and the least 

 chisel-like bills. The former are more stocky-bodied birds, with larger head in comparison 

 with the c(jnstricted neck, as any one may satisfy himself by skinning a Pileated or Hairy 

 Woodpecker, and trying to pull the skin over the head — an operation which may be performed 

 on a Flicker. The ridges of the bill, the bevelling uf the end, the nasal tufts, and usually the 

 length of the outer hind toe, are characters which diminish or are lost together as M-e pass from 

 the Ivory-bill extreme to the Flicker end of the series. The claws are always large, strong, 

 sharp, and much curved ; the feet do not present striking generic modifications, except in the 

 three-toed genus Picoides ; the length of the outer hind toe is the most variable factor. The 

 wings are specially noteworthy for the shortness of the coverts, in exception to the picarian 

 rule; and the shortness of the first primary, which may fairly he called spurious ; but these 

 points and the remarkable character of the tail have been already mentioned. This member 

 oflers indispensable assistance in climbing, when the stiff strong quills are pressed against the 

 tree, and form a secure sujiport. To this end, the muscles are highly devehtped, and the last 

 bone (vomer or pujgostyle) is large and peculiar in shape. Woodpeckers rarely if ever climb 

 head downward, like Nuthatches, nor are the tarsi applied to their support. 



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

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

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

 insects and their larvfe 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 Spiliy- 

 ropicus are probably an exception to most of these statements. But Woodpeckers 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 Red-head for example. Wood- 

 peckers nest in holes in trees, which they excavate for themselves, 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 sometimes highly lustrous. The sexes are ordinarily distin- 

 guishable by color-markings ; the young either show sexual characters from the nest, or have 

 special markings of their own. 



