WOODPECKERS. 47 
undeservedly inquire how, seeing the bill so light and 
thin, the bird can pierce trees with itt Which dif- 
ficulty he thus satisfies, that though it be thin and 
light, yet is it of a bony substance, and, therefore, 
not to be wondered at that, dexterously used by 
the living animal, it should therewith, by many re- 
peated strokes, pierce a tree, having, perchance, the 
instinct to choose a rotten one, as we see drops of 
rain wear holes in flints.”* 
Woodpeckers of every species (Picide, Vicors), 
probably without exception, are carpenters in the 
sense in which we have used the term, that is, they 
not only bore into trees in pursuit of insects for food, 
but chisel out holes for the purpose of nestling. 
Being endowed by Providence with admirable or- 
gans for this purpose, we have a right to infer that 
they take as much pleasure inthe employment. of 
the faculties bestowed upon them as we do in the 
most agreeable occupations. Buffon, on the other 
hand, considers such labours a slavish misery to the 
race of woodpeckers, whom he represents as pe- 
culiarly wretched examples of the inequality to be 
found in the distribution of happiness. 
“ Animals,” says Buffon, “ constantly engaged in 
the pursuit of prey, urged by want and restrained by 
apprehensions of danger, depend for subsistence on 
the vigour of their own exertion; and having scarce- 
ly time to satisfy their immediate desires, they can 
have no leisure to cherish the benevolent affections. 
Such is the solitary condition of all the carnivorous 
birds, except a few cowardly tribes, which prowl 
on putrid carrion, and rather combine like robbers 
than unite as friends. 
** But of all the birds which earn their subsistence 
by spoil, none leads a life so laborious and so pain- 
ful as the woodpecker. Nature has condemned it 
to incessant toil and slavery; while others freely 
* Omithology, by Ray, 129. 
