294 Birds. 



THE COMMON GREEN WOODPECKER, 



(Picus viridis,) 



RECEIVES his name from his habit of pecking the insects 

 from the chinks of trees and holes in the bark. The bill 

 is straight, strong, and angular at the end ; and in most 

 of the speqies is formed like a wedge, for the purpose 

 of piercing the trees. The nostrils are covered with 

 bristles. The tongue is slender, and cylindrical in 

 shape, and to the touch is hard and bony. The Wood- 

 pecker, in common with the Humming Bird, though for 

 a different object, possesses the remarkable property of 

 being able to dart out its tongue and secure insects al a 

 considerable distance from its beak. For the purpose of 

 effectually capturing the stronger insects, the tongue is 

 barbed at the end, and provided with glutinous secre- 

 tion. The toes of this bird are placed two forward and 

 two backward ; and the tail consists of ten hard, stiff, 

 and sharp-pointed feathers. A Woodpecker is often 

 seen hanging by his claws, and resting upon his breast 

 against the stem of a tree ; when, after darting his beak 

 against the bark, with great strength and noise, he runs 

 round the tree with much alacrity, which manoeuvre 

 has made the country people suppose that he goes round 



