333 



PICID^E. 



PICID.E. 



by means of its powerful bill. For the more effectual retention of 

 the stronger insects, it may be observed that the horny sheath at the 

 tip of the tongue is barbed ; the tongue is also lubricated by a 

 glutinous secretion, abundantly furnished by the two large submaxil- 

 lary glands, which may be seen extending from behind the angles of 

 the lower jaw along the under side of the ratni to the symphysis. 



This mechanism enables the bird to introduce the tongue into holes 

 and crevices, and under the loose bark of trees, to the destruction of 

 insects there harboured. A similar conformation, directed to a 

 different end, exists in the Humming-Birds. [TROCHiLlDvE.] 



Sir. Yarrell observes, that another anatomical peculiarity remarkable 

 in the skeleton of the Woodpecker, but admirably adapted to the 

 habits of the bird, is the small size of the keel of the breast-bone. 

 " Moderate powers of flight,' ' says this observing zoologist, " sufficient 

 to transport the bird from tree to tree, are all that it geems to require ; 

 large pectoral muscles with a deep keel to the breast-bone would to 

 this bird be an inconvenience. The advantage of a narrow shallow 

 keel is immediately apparent, on looking at a representation of the 

 skeleton in a climbing position ; the low keel, allowing the bird to 

 place it* body close to the tree, brings its centre of gravity in a per- 

 pendicular line before the points of support, and thus materially 

 diminishes the labour of, and the strain upon, the muscles of the legs 

 and thigh*. The descending position of the bones of the tail indicate 

 the mode by which the stiff points of the tail-feathers are brought 

 Into contact with the surface of the bark of the tree to form an 

 accessory prop." (' British Birds.') 



Skeleton of Woodpecker. (Yarrell.) 



In the opinion of Mr. Swainson the divisions of this family are 

 strongly marked ; because, as some few intervening forms are wanting, 

 the circle is, in one sense, incomplete. Thus the Nuthatches (Sitta), 

 he observes, although clearly approximating to the Woodpeckers, are 

 not directly united to them ; neither does the intervention of the 

 Wryneck, with its worm-like tongue, or of O.ryrhynchua, with its acute 

 bill, do more than indicate the broken links of the chain. The absolute 

 connection between the true Woodpeckers (Picina) and the sub-family 

 of Barbels (Buccoirta) if, he thinks, unquestionably established by 

 two very singular little birds ; one being the Minute Woodpecker of 

 Linnjeus (Aithenunu, Sw.), the other a Barbet (Picumniu, Temm.). 



The true Woodpeckers (Piaana, Sw.) are, Mr. Swainson observes, 

 typically represented by the great ivory-billed species already noticed. 

 The upper and lower ridge of the bill in this bird exactly correspond, 

 he remarks, in their inclination towards the tip, rendering the organ 

 a perfectly straight wedge. This construction is, he points out, 

 rendered still more perfect by a ridge, forming a strongly carinated 

 line, which runs parallel to the culmen, and is situated nearly half 

 way between that and the external margin of the upper mandible. 

 Mr. Swainson then draws attention to the crests in these birds short, 

 rigid, and turned upwards ; but their chief generic distinction rests, 

 in his opinion, on the structure of the feet, the hinder external toe 

 being manifestly longer than that in front : this peculiarity is, he 

 observes, even extended to such aberrant species as have one of the 

 imall toes wanting the two northern species Apterntu tridactylus and 

 A. arcticui, for instance. To this group therefore he restricts the 



'neric name of Plena, which includes in his arrangement all the 



itish species excepting P. riridii. 



In the next group, Chrytoptilui, he finds a diminution of the typical 

 ellenccs; the bill, as in the Common Green Woodpecker, is Btill 



nearly straight, but the lateral ridge is close to the culmen, and the 

 hind toe is either of equal length or slightly shorter than the fore 

 toe : the crest, though still short, is less rigid, and not so much 

 developed. Mr. Swainson remarks that the colours of these birds are 

 always gay ; green and soot-black predominate, and most of the typical 

 species have the quills of a beautiful golden hue, whence the generic 

 name above stated. 



The third genus, ifalacolophus, Sw., is described to be highly elegant : 

 the bill is no longer straight, the culmeu being more arched than the 

 lower ridge or gonys, and the latter particularly short, owing to the 

 prolonged advancement of the chin, which occupies full one-half of 

 the lower mandible. The lateral ridge of the upper mandible is as 

 in the last genus ; but the anterior toe is longer than the hind toe ; 

 the crest is long, formed of loose feathers, and, like the rest of the 

 plumage, particularly soft, whence the generic name. 



Colaptes (Sw.) is distinguished from Malacolopltus by the greater 

 curvature and compression of the bill, and by the disappearance of 

 the ridge on the upper mandible ; thus, in Mr. Swainson's opinion, 

 assimilating the group to the Teuuirostres, and exhibiting the weakest 

 structure among the Woodpeckers. 



Melanerpei (Sw.), the fifth and last genus, may, Mr. Swainson thinks, 

 be not unaptly called Swallow- Woodpeckers, for they resemble those 

 birds in then- migratory habits, their long wings, and their black glossy 

 plumage, destitute in the typical examples of spots or bands. 



Mr. Swainson concludes his observations on the Picidw by stating 

 that the other genera, whose climbing habits have induced naturalists 

 to place them with this family, are Yunx and O.cyrhynchus : the first 

 of these types belongs exclusively to the Old World ; the latter, in 

 Mr. Swainson's opinion, seems to be the representative of it in 

 America. 



The following is Mr. Swainson's systematic arrangement : 

 Picidae. Bill straight, more or less conic. Toes placed in pairs. 

 Sub-family : Picianai (Picirxe ?), the True Woodpeckers. Bill wedge- 

 shaped. Tongue vermiform. 



1. Pictu, Typical- Woodpeckers. Bill perfectly wedge-shaped, cylin" 

 drical; the culmen straight ; lateral ridges removed from the culmen. 

 Versatile (outer posterior) toe always longer than the anterior (outer 

 fore toe). 



Sub-genera : Picus (America and India) ; llcmicircus (India) ; Den- 

 drobates (Africa, except two species from Tropical America) ; Apternus 

 (Arctic Regions) ; and Dendrocopui (Universal.) 



2. Chrytoptilus, Green-Woodpeckers. Versatile and anterior toes of 

 equal length. Lateral ridge nearest to the culmeu, which is sharp, 

 and either quite straight or very slightly bent. Bill depressed or 

 widened at the base. Colour green banded or spotted with black. 

 Sub-typical genus. 



Sub-genera : Dendromius (Africa and India) ; Chloronerpes (Tropical 

 America) ; Dryotwnut (America and Europe) ; Chrysoptilus (Tropical 

 America). 



3. Malacolophus, Rasorial- Woodpeckers. Versatile toe shorter than 

 the anterior, culmen curved. The lateral ridge (except in the typical 

 group) wanting. Tarsus shorter than the versatile toe. Hind head 

 with a crest of very soft feathers. 



Sub-genera : Brachylophui (Old World only) ; Ilemilophus (India 

 only). Typical : Malacolophui (Tropical America only) ; Meiylyptes 

 (India) ; Chrysonotus (India only). 



4. Colaptei. Tarsus lengthened and equal to the versatile toe; 

 which latter is shorter than the anterior. Bill broader at its base 

 than it is high ; the sides compressed ; the culmen considerably curved 

 from its base ; the lateral ridge either obsolete or entirely wanting. 

 Nostrils partially defended by feathers. 



Sub-genera : Oeocolaptes (Africa only) ; Colaptes. 



5. Melanerpes. Bill straight, more or less cylindrical ; base wide ; 

 the ridge of the culmen slightly bent, but not very prominent ; the 

 sides rounded ; the lateral ridge slight, and placed near but not close 

 to the culmen. Gonys very long, as in the typical group. Nostrils 

 nearly concealed. Wings long ; the first quill spurious or very small ; 

 the second nearly as long as the third. Toes various. Habits gre- 

 garious and migratory. Colours black varied with white and red. The 

 fissirostral type (America only). 



Sub-genera : Centurui, Leuconerpet, Melanerpes, Tripsurus. Sub- 

 family : Buccoina, Barbets [BARBETS]. Bill surrounded with long 

 bristles. Tail short, soft. 



Yunx. [Yusx.] 



The Picid(e, in Mr. Swainson's arrangement, are placed between the 

 PiMacidw and the Certhiadce. 



Picut martius, Linn, (genus Dryocopus, Boie ; Dryotomut, Sw.). This 

 is the Pic Noir of the French ; Picchio Grande, Pieohio Nero, and Picchio 

 Corvo of the Italians ; Schwartz Specht and Fichten- und Nordischer- 

 Baumhacker of the Germans; Swarte Specht of the Netherlanders ; 

 Great Black Woodpecker of the English. 



The whole plumage deep black, except that, in the male, all the 

 upper part of the head is of a lively red ; the female, on the contrary, 

 has only a small space of that colour on the occiput. Very old males 

 have the belly and abdomen tinged with reddish; part of the tarsus 



