PICIDA, WOODPECKERS. on 
species are commonly thrown into three divisions, which, however, I shall not 
present. The ivory-bill and the flicker stand nearly at extremes of the family, the 
little diversity of which is thereby evident. One of our genera, without very 
obvious external peculiarities, stands apart from the rest in the character of the 
tongue— a fact that seems to have escaped general attention. In ordinary Pici the 
“horns” of the tongue are extraordinarily produced backward, as slender jointed 
bony rods curling up over the skull behind, between the skin and the bone, to the 
eyes or even further; these rods are enwrapped in highly developed, specialized 
muscles, by means of which the birds thrust out the tongue sometimes several 
inches beyond the bill. This is not the case in Sphyrapicus, where the hyoid 
cornua do not extend beyond the base of the skull, and the tongue, consequently, is 
but little more extensible than in ordinary birds. I have determined this by 
examination of all our species but one, in the flesh. The tongue of Sphyrapicus 
is beset at the end by numerous brushy filaments, instead of the few acute barbs 
commonly observed in the family. (See also under gen. 153.) In most of our 
species the bill is perfectly straight, wide and stout at the base, tapering regularly 
to a compressed and vertically truncate tip, chisel-like, and strengthened by sharp 
ridges on the side of the upper mandible — an admirable tool for cutting into trees ; 
‘and in all such, the nostrils are hidden by dense tufts of antrorse feathers. In 
others, like the flicker, the bill is smooth, barely curved, the tip acute and the 
nostrils exposed. The claws are always large, strong, sharp and much curved; the 
feet do not present striking modifications, except in the three-toed genus Picoides. 
The wings offer nothing specially noteworthy, unless it be the shortness of the 
coyerts, in exception to the Picarian rule; and the shortness of the first primary, 
which may fairly be called spurious. The remarkable character of the tail has been 
already mentioned. This member offers indispensable assistance in climbing, 
when the stiff strong quills are pressed against the tree, and form a secure support 
To this end, the muscles are highly developed, and the last bone (vomer or pygostyle) 
is large and peculiar in shape. Woodpeckers rarely if ever hang head downward, 
like Nuthatches, nor are the tarsi applied to their support. 
Species are abundant in all the wooded portion of this country, and wherever 
found are nearly resident. For, although insectivorous, they feed principally upon 
dormant or at least stationary insects, and therefore need not migrate; they are, 
moreover, hardy birds. They dig insects and their larve out of trees, and are eminently 
beneficial to the agriculturist and fruit grower. Contrary to a prevalent impression, 
their boring does not seem to injure fruit trees, which may be riddled with holes 
without harmful result. The number of noxious insects these birds destroy is simply 
incalculable ; what little fruit some of them steal is not to be mentioned in the same 
connection, and they deserve the good will of all. The birds of the genus Sphy- 
rapicus are probably an exception to most of these statements. Woodpeckers nest 
in holes in trees, which they excavate for themselves, sometimes to a great depth, 
and lay numerous rounded pure white eggs, of which the shell has a crystalline 
textnre, on the chips and dust at the bottom of the hole. The voice is loud and 
harsh, susceptible of little inflection. The plumage as a rule presents bright colors 
in large areas or in striking contrasts, and is sometimes highly lustrous. The sexes 
are ordinarily distinguishable by color-markings. 
Ozs. Campephilus imperialis, the largest and most magnificent bird of the 
family, inhabiting Central America, has been attributed to the United States, but 
upon unsatisfactory evidence. (Aup., iv, 213; Cass., 285, pl. 49; Bop., 82.) 
Dryocopus lineatus, likewise, was improperly introduced by Audubon (iv, 233). 
