WOODPECKERS. 251 



are simply glued to the tongue by means of the glutinous saliva, 

 and are prevented from becoming disengaged by the barbs, which 

 act much in the same way as the prickles of the burdock. 



Bufifon, in his usual sneering manner, speaks of the whole tribe 

 of woodpeckers as objects of commiseration. According to him, 

 the narrow circumference of a tree circumscribes their dull round 

 of life, which is passed in boring the bark and wood in order to 

 extract their prey ; such a description is, however, peculiarly in- 

 applicable to a race so active, restless, and noisy — to creatures 

 over on the alert, flitting from tree to tree, and busied with their 

 appointed labours. These birds feed also upon fruits and seeds. 

 The woodpeckers breed and roost in holes in trees, which they 

 are enabled to enlarge by means of their strong, sharp beaks ; 

 their nest consists only of the chips and debris at the bottom of 

 the excavation. Their eggs are variable in number, smooth, 

 shining, and of a pure white colour. 



This family embraces the Barbets, the Piculets, the Wood- 

 peckers proper, the Green Woodpeckers, the Black Woodpeckers, 

 the Ground Woodpeckers, and the Wrynecks. 



Sub-Family I. 

 THE BARBETS. CABITONINyE. 



General Characteristics. — Bill large, broad at the base, usually furnished with 

 bristles, and compressed towards the tip ; the tail generally short, even, and the 

 feathers rounded at the ends. 



This sub-family embraces several genera, some of which inhabit 

 the forests of Africa, where they live upon insects and fruits. They 

 ■select a hole in some decaying tree, in which the female deposits 

 lier eggs on the bare wood. On quitting the nest, the young ac- 

 company their parents, and all live together in perfect harmony. 

 These bands are so devoid of fear that it is easy to find the nest, 

 it being only necessary to follow the little family to the hole where 

 ihey reside, and to which they always retire to pass the night. 

 Others are extremely abundant in most parts of the continent of 

 India, where they seem to prefer open spaces in the jungles, or 

 wherever a few trees are to be found upon which they can perch ; 



