134 PICID.'E. 



part of the trachea, and from thence passing forward, are 

 attached to the anterior part of the tongue, and by their con- 

 traction bring the tongue back again. The tongue itself is 

 furnished at the tip with a horny point, and also with four or 

 five short bristle-like hairs on each side which are directed 

 backwards. At each side of the head of the bird, behind and 

 below the external orifice of the ear, is a large and elongated 

 parotid gland, from which a membranous duct passes as far 

 forwards as the point of union of the tw^o bones, forming 

 together the lower mandible, on the inner surface of which 

 the glutinous secretion of these large glands passes out, and 

 may be seen to issue on making slight pressure along the course 

 of the glands. The flattened inner surface of the two bones 

 which are united along the distal part of their lower edge, 

 forms the natural situation of the tongue when at rest within 

 the mandibles ; and every time it is drawn into the mouth 

 when the bird is feeding, it becomes covered with a fresh 

 supply of the glutinous mucus. From a close examination 

 of the contents of the stomach of many Green Woodpeckers, 

 I am induced to believe that the point of the tongue is not 

 used as a spear, nor the food taken up by the beak, unless 

 the subject, whatever it may happen to be, is too heavy to be 

 lifted by adhesion. 



Insects of various sorts, ants, and their eggs, form the 

 principal food of the Green Woodpecker ; and I have seldom 

 had an opportunity of examining a recently killed specimen 

 the beak of which did not indicate, by the earth adhering to 

 the base, and to the feathers about the nostrils, that the bird 

 had been at work at an ant-hill, and this species is therefore 

 more frequently seen on the ground than any other of our 

 Woodpeckers ; it is said also to be a great enemy to bees. 

 Beclistein says that the Green Woodpecker will crack nuts. 



Another anatomical peculiarity remarkable in the skeleton 

 of the Woodpecker, but admirably adapted to the habits of 



