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O F T H E 



WOODPECKER and its AFFINITIES. 



LIVE chiefly on infefts contained^ in the bodies of trees ; for 

 this purpofe have ftraight, hard, ftrong, angular, fharp bills, fit 

 for piercing and boring. Tongue long, round, Iharp ; dentated legs, 

 fhort and ftrong ; four thick, ftrong, nervous toes, ftanding two forward, 

 and two backwards one of which is remarkably ftrong ; all have very ftrong 

 and crooked nails, which are particularly ferviceable in holding by branches 

 of trees. They have ftifi^ hard tails, to lean upon when climbing ; the 

 feathers of which end more or lefs Jharply, and which contribute to ^at 

 them. ; for they often pafs a whole night in the attitude of ftriking, and 

 fleep while fo fituated. 



Of this bird there are many kinds, and many varieties in every part 

 of the world. They differ in fize, colour, a^ild appearance j the largeft 

 equal a crow, the fmalleft a thrufti. Are moft numerous in warm cli- 

 mates. 



The Green WooDSPiTE, or Woodpecker, is called the Rain Fowl 

 in fome parts of the country; becaufe, when it makes a greater noife 

 than ordinary, it is fuppofed to foretel rain (the ancients thought it 

 ominous). Is about the fize of a jay j the throat, breaft and belly are 

 of a pale greenilh colour; the back, neck, and covert feathers of the 

 wings green. The tongue is its diftinguiftiing charadteriftic. 



Feeds on infe6ls ; particularly on thofe which lodge in hollow or rot- 

 ten trees. Thefe it procures by its tongue. This is round, ending in a 

 flifF, ftiarp, bony tip, dentated on both fides, like the beard of an ar- 

 row ; this it can dart three or four inches out from the bill, and draw in 

 again at plcafure. Thus its prey is transfixed, and drawn into the mouth. 

 When a wood-pecker has found a rotten hollow tree where there are 

 worms, refting by its ftrong claws, and leaning on the thick feathers of 

 l^ts tail, it begins to bore with its fbarp ftrong beak, till itdifclofes the 

 internal habitation; then it fends forth a loud cry, which terrifies the 

 ^hole colony ; while they creep hither and thither, feeking fafety, the 

 Fbird feafts on the whole brood. Sometimes alights on the ground, to 

 try its fortune at an ant-hill, which it pecks, in order to call the inha- 

 bitants abroad ; then thrufts out its long red tongue, which being like a 



worm. 



