SONGLESS BIRDS OF OliiJHAUD AAIJ WOODLAND. 245 



them filled witli insects al)Out three times out of four. Dr. 

 Warren records the examination of sixty-two Humming- 

 bird stomachs. The food contents were mainlj- small spiders, 

 beetles, or other insects; small worms and flies were also 

 noted, luit none was specilically identified. 



WOODPECKERS. 



This family comprises a highly specialized group of birds, 

 the more typical of which are peculiarly fitted to secure their 

 food by digging into the trunks or limb.s of trees, in search 

 of ants and other wood-l)oring insects which cut channels 

 under the bark and into the wood. The feet of most ^^'ood- 

 pcckers are four-toed, two toes being disposed in front and 

 two behind. Some species, however, have but three toes. 

 The tail is composed of stitf, hard feathers, with strong shafts. 

 These modifications of the foot and tail assist the bird in 

 climbing perpendicularly and in clinging to the bark of trees. 

 While climbing or feeding, the two pairs of toes with their 

 strong, sharp claws enable the l)ird to grip the bark and hold 

 on, while the strong, shari)-pointcd quills of the tail serve 

 as a brace or support. The l)ird is thus more fully equipped 

 for climbing than a telegraph lineman. The claws and tail 

 take the place of the man's hands and spurs. But the AVood- 

 pecker's tools for drilling into the wood and extracting its 

 living food are more wonderful than its climbing apparatus. 



If any one who had never heard of a Woodpecker were to 

 be told that the bird drilled holes into the solid wood by 

 beating its head against a tree, he would be likely to regard 

 the story as fiction. Nevertheless, that is very nearly what 

 the Woodpecker actually does. The highly specialized appa- 

 ratus that will permit of such constant hammering of beak 

 and head against the trees without producing concussion of 

 the brain, or the least inconvenience or injury to the bird, 

 is certainly among the most wonderful features of bird 

 anatomy. 



A moment's reflection will convince any one that, unless 

 the Woodpecker's skull were built on an unusual })lan, it 

 could not withstand such hard and continuous hammering. 

 If we watch a Woodpecker drilling, we shall see that he 



