PICARIAN BIRDS AND PARROTS OF CEYLON. 197 
THE PICARIAN BIRDS AND PARROTS OF CEYLON, 
By W. E. Watt, M.A., F.Z.8. 
(With two Plates.) 
HE present paper comprises the Picarian Birds and 
Parrots found in Ceylon. It includes all the Ceylonese 
species described in the third volume of birds in the Fauna of 
British India, with the exception of the Owls and Hawks. 
T have again to acknowledge my thanks to Mr. Stuart Baker 
for advice and for information on the nesting of many of the 
rarer species. 
Order PICI, 
Family Picrp @. 
Sub-family Picine. 
Woodpeckers. 
The true Woodpeckers, together with two allied sub- 
families unknown in Ceylon—the Piculets and Wrynecks— 
form a well-marked family, which, by Blanford, has been 
placed in a separate order. They are found in the temperate 
and tropical regions all over the world, except in Madagascar, 
Australasia, and Polynesia, and are readily distinguishable by 
their outward form and habits, which do not vary greatly 
among the different species. The bill, which is generally 
strong and chisel-shaped, is used for cutting away the bark of 
trees in search of insects, and for excavating nest holes in 
tree trunks or branches. The tongue is peculiar, being of 
enormous length, and provided with glands secreting a sticky 
fluid, to which insects adhere. The foot is usually four-toed, 
and adapted for climbing. The arrangement of the toes is 
zygodactylic, z.e., the hallux or true hind toe and the fourth 
toe are directed backwards, the second and third toes 
2 6(5)20 
