26o WOODPECKERS. 



native tree before they are able to fly, and are there fed by their 

 parents until they can provide for themselves. 



The type of this sub-family is — 



The Rusty Melanerpes {Melanerpcs rubiginosus). 



Sub -Family Vl. 

 THE GROUND WOODPECKERS. COLAPTIN/E. * 



General Characteristics. — Bill broad at the base, and the sides compressed to 

 the end, with the culmen much curved to the tip, which is acute, the sides of the 

 upper mandible sloping, and the lateral ridge scarcely visible or entirely wanting. 



The denomination of Cuckoo-Woodpeckers would not be in- 

 appropriate to the members of this sub-family, seeing that in their 

 structure the characters of both these birds seem to be combined. 

 They have, in fact, the tail-feathers of the woodpecker, and a 

 rounded, slightly arched, and pointed beak, resembling that of 

 the cuckoos. They differ from the preceding woodpeckers in 

 having their tongues much less extensible, and also in many of 

 their habits. They are very generally seen upon the ground, 

 and do not climb trees, although they sometimes cling to their 

 trunks by means of their claws, but without changing their posi- 

 tion ; nevertheless, they perch readily upon the branches, and 

 leap with facility from one twig to another ; indeed, they ma>' 

 sometimes be seen upon tall shrubs, upon the berries of which they 

 feed with avidity, notwithstanding that insects and worms con- 

 stitute their principal diet. They usually frequent coppices ; they 

 will approach villages during the winter, but in the spring they 

 withdraw into the forests, where they avail themselves of holes 

 made by other woodpeckers in which to build their nests, seeing 

 that they are without the means of excavating them for themselves. 



These birds are found in North and South America, the West 

 Indies, and South Africa. They may be found employed in 

 examining the manure of cattle for insects, or turning over the 

 hillocks of ants, which yield their favourite fcod. Occasionally 

 they frequent trees for ants that make their nests in them, and 



* KoXan-Tw, colapto, to peck imth the bill. 



