458 CLASS XVI. 



sternum has two excisions at the posterior margin on each side; the furcula 

 is perfectly closed, but not joined to the sternum. The quadrate bone is 

 particularly short, and the lower jaw seems to be joined immediately to the 

 cranium. Compare for further osteological peculiarities: E. Kessler 

 Beitrdge zur Naturgesch. der Spechtc, Bullet, de la Soc. imp. des Natiir. de 

 Moscou, XVII. 1844, pp. 285 — 362. 



LiNN^Us was acquainted with only some twenty species of this genus ; 

 now it counts more than 150. Modern writers, especially SWAINSON, have 

 attempted to form dififerent genera of this genus ; divisions, howevei-, which 

 can make no pretence to that rank, and in the an'angement can only be 

 regarded as subdivisions for reviewing the species. The European species 

 may be distinguished as black, variegated, and green or ground wood- 

 peckers. Amongst the variegated woodpeckers is Piciis tridactylus L., 

 (Naum. Taf. 137, black and white, with yellow crown) without hallux. Of 

 ■this three-toed species LacepJ;0E has formed his genus Picoides, to which 

 two North American species may also be referred; but there are Indian 

 species, which belong to another group, which also have no hallux or only 

 a very short one, or only a claw in place of it. The variegated wood- 

 peckers form the sub-genus Dendrocopus Koch, Swains,, Pious Gray. 

 Sp. Picus major L., Buff. PI. enl. 196, 595, Naum. Taf. 134; — Picus 

 medius L., Buff. PI. enl. 611, Naum. Taf. 136, Cuv. R. Ani., ed.ill., Ois. 

 PI. 48, fig. 4 ; — Picus minor L., Buff. PI. enl. 598, Naum. 1. 1. figs. 3, 4; 

 ■ — these three species, occurring in Germany and other parts of Europe, 

 also in Holland, where, however, the first species only is common, are 

 black on the back and have the wings black and white. 



To the woodpeckers which are quite black or nearly so, in which the 

 males have the head red {Dryocopus BoiE, Dryotomus Swains.), belong 

 large species from America, as Picus principalis L., Buff, PI. enl. 690, 

 and an European species, Picus martius L., Buff. PI. enl. 596, Naum. 

 Taf. 131, which lives in pine forests, principally in the North of Europe. 



Green species, with a crest on the back of the head and the upper 

 margin of the bill somewhat curved towards the head, form the genus 

 Malacoloplms Sw., Gecinus Boie, Gray. Sp. Picus viridis L., Buff, PL 

 enl. 879 male, 371 fem.. Less. OrnitJi. PI. 28, fig. i male, Naum, Taf. 

 132; the green xuoodpecher, &c. Compare on the sub-genera, not recorded 

 here, Swainson Nat. Hist, and Classif. of Birds {Cabinet Cyclopced.), II. 

 PP- 3°5 — 3ii> ^T^^ Gray Genera of Birds. 



Family XXVI. Angulwostres. {Syndactyli Illig., Galhulidoi 

 Selys.) Bill elongate, straight or somewhat straight, tetragonal, 

 acuminate. Feet very short, with two anterior toes united almost 

 to the point, with hallux short or none. 



Oalhula MOEHRING, Beiss. Bill straight, carinate. A few 

 bristles at the angle of mouth. Nostrils placed near the base of bill, 

 oval. Feet with tarsi feathered in part, covered anteriorly with 



