THE WOODPECKERS ::-.-7 



those of rough bark, like elms, poplars, and apple for example, are 

 also closely explored. The larvw of timber-haunting beetles, unts, 

 spiders, caterpillars, and other forms of insect life swum in these 

 hark crannies, and, it has been remarked, especially on the under side 

 of the branches. Sterland, indeed, in Thr Birds of SJifrwood Forest, 

 insisted that this bird, when feeding, confines its examination to 

 those parti of the tree, but this is too sweeping a statement, as is 

 shown indeed by the fact that the great fat lame of the goat-moth 

 (Cos^u ligniperda) are largely dug out from their retreat in the trunks 

 of decaying trees, Montagu.' referring to the fact, remarks that the 

 pungent smell peculiar to this larva) is imparted to the bird at least 

 temporarily. But the green-woodpecker is not singular in this 

 respect, for the greater spotted-woodpecker, at any rate, has also a 

 curious and strong smell, at least as a rule. In this connection it 

 Is interesting to notice that a Paraguayan species of woodpecker 

 (Picumnus pilcoinayensis) is said 1 to possess a peculiarly offensive 

 odour, such as arises from a place infested with cockroaches, but 

 much stronger: and so lasting is the odour that it may be traced, 

 even in skins, for years. We may surmise, then, that this odour is 

 due, not, as has been supposed, to an internal glandular secretion of 

 the bird, but to the fact that this particular woodpecker obtains its 

 staple food from some offensive-smelling insect 



The passage from tree to tree is made with a curious undulat- 

 ing flight, and in alighting the bird will often contrive to come to 

 rest on the under surface of a bough, then to commence its search 

 afresh, working from the lower part of the tree upwards, and ascend- 

 ing spirally, but generally they alight in the trunk. Having gained 

 the topmost branches, it does not descend after the fashion of the 

 nuthatch, but flies off to a fresh tree, or, describing a wide circle, 

 returns to the same tree. 



Though the woodpeckers might be supposed to represent 

 the most adept of all climbing birds, this is not really the case, 



1 Ornithological Dictionary. * lbi, 1010, 285. 



