THE WOODPECKERS TONGUE. 



451 



borders of large forests. Insects and their larvae form their nourish- 

 ment ; which they seek in the trunks and clefts of trees. Their 

 tongue is wonderfully suited for this purpose. It is very long, 

 and, by a peculiar mechanism, can be projected out far enough to 

 reach objects three or four inches away. The beak is terminated 

 by a horny point bristling with small hooks. In many species it is 

 overlaid with a sticky humour, secreted by two voluminous glands, 

 the effect of which is to catch 

 the insects which it touches. 

 Whenever the bird darts this 

 tongue into the crevices, it 

 draws it out more or less laden 

 with insects. If it perceives 

 an insect that it cannot reach 

 by means of this organ, it has 

 recourse to its strong beak : 

 striking the tree with redoubled 

 blows, it cuts the bark, breaks 

 an opening, and seizes the 

 coveted prey. It often also 

 taps with its beak to sound 

 a tree, and assure itself that 

 there is no recess in the in- 

 terior which would serve as a 

 refuge for its prey. If the 

 trunk is hollow, it examines 

 all parts to find an entrance 

 to the cavity. When it has 

 discovered it, it introduces its 

 tongue ; and if the canal is not 

 large enough to permit it to 

 explore the hiding-place with 

 success, it increases the size of 

 the aperture. It is not only 



to seek for food that Woodpeckers make holes in trees, but also to 

 form secure hiding-places for their nests. Some species, it is true, 

 select the anfractuosities which they find, but others hollow out their 

 resting-places according to their tastes. When such is the case, they 

 select soft-wood trees, such as willow, aspen, &c. The cavity which 

 they bore to where the nest is placed is generally so oblique and so 

 deep that perfect darkne.ss must surround them. This is doubtless a 

 measure of security against small mammals, especially the rodents. 



Fig. 177. Downy Woodpeckers, 



