144 GREEN WOODPECKER. 



11. WOODPECKER TRIBE. 



Woodpeckers are found in most countries, both of hot 

 and cold climates. They subsist entirely on insects. 

 Their nests are formed in holes of trees. Their tongue 

 is long, horny, and somewhat barbed at the extremity. 



Green Woodpecker. The ease with which these, and 

 the other species of Woodpeckers, run up the perpen- 

 dicular trunks of trees, is very remarkable. In this act, 

 they pick insects out of the crevices of the bark, and 

 search for such as are concealed betwixt the decayed and 

 loose pieces of the bark and the wood* These they are 

 able to reach, at the depth even of three or four inches, 

 by darting out their tongue, and transfixing them upon 

 its horny, sharp, and barbed extremity. Their beak is so 

 powerful, that some of the species are able, by means of 

 it, to perforate the bodies of the soundest trees. In this 

 respect, Woodpeckers are considered to be very in- 

 jurious to the owners of timber, as the rain having now 

 access to the interior of the tree, it soon afterwards begins 

 to decay. The tail-feathers of the Woodpeckers are so 

 short and stiff, that they are of great use in steadying the 

 birds, in the operation of digging holes in the trees. In 

 these holes the females form their nests, and lay five or 

 six eggs, which are of a beautiful semi-transparent white 

 colour. The Green Woodpecker is a native of several 

 parts of Europe, and is sufficiently common in all the 

 wooded districts of the south of England. Its voice is a 

 harsh, but not very unpleasing scream ; and is said to be 

 more frequently exerted before rainy weather, than at 

 other times. The wings and tail of this bird are so short, 

 that it flies by a kind of jerking motion. 



