364 ZOOLOGY. 



Sub-fam. 4, Gecince, or Green Woodpeckers. Bill more or less long, 

 straight, base broad, sides with a lateral ridge ; wings long, pointed ; tail 

 long ; tarsi and feet short and strong. Size larger, color generally green 

 or yellow. 



The greater number of the birds of this sub-family are confined to the 

 old world, many of which are large and handsome species, with plumage of 

 various shades of green, and with the top of the head usually bright scarlet. 

 They live entirely in the forests. The green woodpecker of Europe, 

 Gecinus viridis (pi. 98, fig. 7), is a common bird of that continent, every- 

 where to be seen climbing amongst trees of small growth, and sometimes in 

 hedges and on the ground. There are several Indian species of beautiful 

 plumage ; and a few are found in South America which have the plumage 

 of dark brown or cinnamon color, with long crests of pale yellow, such as 

 the citron-colored woodpecker {Celeus citrinus) and others. 



Sub-fam. 5. MelanerpincB, or Black Woodpeckers. Bill rather long, com- 

 ])ressed, with a lateral ridge ; wings long and pointed ; tail rather long ; 

 tarsi and feet short. Size various, color mostly black, or striped black and 

 white. 



A sub-family of exclusively American birds inhabiting the entire conti- 

 nent. 



The red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is the best 

 known species. "There is, perhaps," says Wilson, "no bird in^North 

 America more universally known than this. His tricolored plumage, red, 

 white, and black, glossed with steel blue, is so striking and characteristic, 

 and his predatory habits in the orchards and cornfields, added to his 

 numbers and fondness for hovering along the fences, so very notorious, that 

 almost every child is acquainted with the red-headed woodpecker. 



" Wherever you travel in the interior in the summer you hear them 

 screaming from the adjoining woods, rattling on the dead limbs of trees, or 

 on the fences, where they are perpetually seen flitting from stake to stake 

 on the roadside before you. Wherever there is a tree or trees of the wild 

 cherry, covered with ripe fruit, there you see them busy among the 

 branches ; he is fond of the ripe berries of the sour gum, and pays pretty 

 regular visits to the cherry trees when loaded with fruit. Towards fall, he 

 often approaches the barn or farmhouse, and raps on the shingles and 

 weatherboards ; he is of a gay and frolicsome disposition, and, half-a-dozen 

 of the fraternity are frequently seen diving and vociferating around the 

 high dead limbs of some large tree, pursuing and playing with each other, 

 and amusing the passenger with their gambols." He inhabits the whole of 

 North America, passing the winter in the extreme south. 



There are two species found in western North America, which are 

 related to the red-headed woodpecker, Lewis's woodpecker {M. torquatns) 

 and the red woodpecker {M. ruber). 



The other birds of this group are peculiar to Mexico and South America. 



Sub-fam. 6. Colaptince, or Ground Woodpeckers. Bill long, curved, 

 broad at base, compressed ; wings long ; tail rather long ; tarsi short ; toes 

 long. Size rather large ; colors green and yellow. 

 5G8 



