78 ZOOLOGY. 



slender, cylindrical, terminated with a horny point ; 

 tail composed of ten flexible feathers ; feet formed for 

 climbing. 



Of this genus, only one species is known, and that is an 

 inhabitant of this country ; its usual haunts are in the vici- 

 nity of woods or orchards ; its food consists of ants, and 

 other small insects; which it secures by a viscid mat(er, 

 covering the tongue ; for figure and description, see British 

 Ornithology^ vol. 2. This is a migratory Bird, usually pre- 

 ceeding the Cuckoo, in its arrival and departure. 



24. Picus. Woodpecker. Bill strait, angular, wedge- 

 shaped at the tip : nostrils covered with recumbent 

 setaceous feathers ; tongue long, cylindrical, beset at 

 the point with reflected bristles, tip horny : tail com- 

 posed of ten stiff sharp-pointed feathers ; feet formed 

 for climbing. 



A very numerous genus, dispersed over most of the tem- 

 perate and warmer parts of the globe ; their general resorts 

 are woody situations ; they feed on insects and their larvse, 

 for the latter, they often perforate trees to the depth of 

 several inches, to get at the chrysalids deposited in the 

 heart of the tree ; some of the kinds feed on ants, which 

 they procure by thrusting their worm-like tongues into the 

 nests of these insects. They deposit their eggs in holes, 

 which they excavate in trees, and are of a wild and shy 

 nature, five species are natives of the British Islands, for 

 figures, see British Ornithology ^y oh. 1, 2t 



