148 



WE now, in the natural order of succession, arrive 

 at the Scansores, or Climbing Perchers, the last tribe 

 of the great order Insessores. The Scansorial fa- 

 milies of Western Africa consist of the Picidce or 

 Woodpeckers, the Pittacidce or Parrots, and the 

 Cuculidce or Cuckoos. Of the two others, the 

 Creepers and the Toucans, no examples have yet 

 occurred. We commence with the extensive fa- 

 mily of 



PICIDJE, OR THE WOODPECKERS. 



The ornithologist will find so full an exposition of 

 the natural divisions of this family in two of our 

 preceding works*, that in a local fauna like this 

 these details need not be recapitulated. On such 

 groups, however, as occur in this part of Africa we 

 may advantageously introduce a few remarks. It 

 will be seen from what we have already stated re- 

 garding the circle of the pre-eminently typical wood- 

 peckers, that there are two genera standing at its 

 confines which lead different ways. One of these is 

 the genus Dendrocopus of Kock ? composed of the 

 small and middle-sized black and white woodpeckers 

 so common in temperate latitudes : these are at 

 once known by their peculiarity of plumage, their 

 short and thick neck, elongated hind toe, and some- 

 * Northern Zoology, ii. 308 Classification of Birds, ii. 



