266 AVES : lici. — XLiv. 



coloration. In many the bill is disproportionately large. (Lat., 

 olccilo, kiiijifisluT.) 



a. Bill conipressi'tl, tlio culiupn c-nriiiate; liead crested; aquatic, feeding on 

 lislies Cekylk, 440. 



440. CERYLE Buie. (ktjpvXos, kingfisher.) 



841. C. alcyon (L.). Bki.tkd KiNMiFi.'^UKK. Ashy blue above, 

 a bluish hand across breast; white below; tail black, s])eckle(l and 

 barn-d with white ; 9 ^'^'^ sides and band across belly chestnut. 

 L. lU. W. 6. T. 3^. B. 2. N. Am., everywhere eommon. 

 (Lat., kingfisher.) 



Order XLIV. PICI. (The Woodpeckers and 

 Wrynecks.) 



A small order composed of the Woodpeckers, and two closely 

 related families. Feet zygodactyle, the outer toe permanently re- 

 versed, the hind toe wanting in one genus ; metatarsus modified in 

 connection with the reversed toe; wing with 10 primaries and short 

 secondary coverts; tail with 10 ([uills, besides which, in the wood- 

 peckers, is an outer pair of partly concealed spurious (juiils ; bill 

 straiLrht, hard and strong; palate saurognathous ; sternum double- 

 notched behind ; salivary glands large. (Lat., picus, woodpecker.) 

 a. Nostrils covered by feathers ; tail feathers rigid and acute. Picid.e, 159. 



Family CLIX. PICID^. (The Wooppkckkks.) 



Rill stout, usually strai<iht, with the tip truncate or acute, fitted 

 for hammering or boring into wood. Tongue long, Hattish, bariu'd, 

 capal)le of great protrusion, adapted for securing insects (except in 

 S/ihijrnjnciis); hyoid apparatus peculiar, its horns gi'neialiy (juitc 

 hmg, curving around the skull behind and over forward again to 

 the ear or beyond. Feet zygodactyle, the hind toe .'sometimes want- 

 ing ; claws compressed, sharp and strong. Tail feathers 1 2, rijrid 

 and acuminate, the outer pair short, concealed ; tail ni'ver forked ; 

 nasal tufts present. 



Chiefly arl)oreal ; all (exci'pt Sphi/rnpiru.t, which is truly a "Sajv 

 Sucker,") are pre-eminently insectivorous. For this reason these 

 birds are of the greatest service to the farmer, ^'oice loud and 

 harsh. Colors generally bright, the male at least having almost al- 

 ways red on the head ; sexes usually slightly different. SjK^cies 

 2.')0, abundant almost evt-rywherc. 

 a. Outer hind toe lonper than outer anterior (middle) toe. 



b. Head willi a conspicuous crest; (auc ver^ large; bill pale). 



Campepiiilus, 441. 



bb. Head not crested. 



c. Tonpue pointed, highly extensible, as usual among woodpeckers; (no 

 yellowish on belly). 



