IIS A HISTORY OF 



CHAPTER IV. 



OF THE WOODPECKER AND ITS AFFINITIES. 



WE now come to the numerous tribes of Woodpeckers, a class 

 easily distinguished from all others, both for their peculiar formation, 

 their method of procuring food, and their manner of providing a place 

 of safety for their young. Indeed, no other class of birds seems more 

 immediately formed for the method of life they pursue, being fitted 

 by nature, at all points, for the peculiarity of their condition. They 

 live chiefly upon the insects contained in the body of trees; and for this 

 purpose are furnished with a straight, hard, strong, angular, and sharp 

 bill, made for piercing and boring. They have a tongue of a very 

 great length; round, ending in a sharp, stiff, bony thorn, dentated on 

 each side, to strike ants and insects when dislodged from theii cells 

 Their legs are short and strong, for the purposes of climbing. Their 

 toes stand two forward, and two backward; which is paiticularly ser- 

 viceable in holding by the branches of trees. They have hard stiff 

 tails to lean upon when climbing. They feed only upon insects, and 

 want that intestine, which naturalists call the ctecum; a circumstance 

 peculiar to this tribe only. 



Of this bird there are many kinds, and many varieties in each kind. 

 They form large colonies in the forests of every part of the world. 

 They, differ in size, colour, and appearance; and agree only in the 

 marks above-mentioned, or in those habits which result from so pecu- 

 liar a conformation. Instead, therefore, of descending into a minute 

 discrimination of every species, let us take one for a pattern, to which 

 all the rest will be found to bear the strongest affinity. Words can but 

 feebly describe the plumage of a bird, but it is the province of history 

 to enter into a detail of every animal's pursuits and occupations. 



The Green Woodspite, or Woodpecker, is called the rain-fowl in 

 some parts of the country; because when it makes a greater noise 

 than ordinary, it is supposed to fortel rain. It is about the size of a 

 jay; the throat, breast, and belly are of a pale greenish colour; and 

 the back, neck, and covert feathers of the wings are green. But the 

 tongue of this little animal makes its most distinguished characteristic, 

 as it serves for its support and defence. As was said above, the wood- 

 pecker feeds on insects, and particularly on those which are lodged 

 in the body of hollow or of rotten trees. The tongue is its instru- 

 ment for killing and procuring this food, which cannot be found in 

 great plenty. This is round, ending in a stiff, sharp, bony tip, den- 

 tated on both sides, like the beard of an arrow; and this it can dart 

 out three or four inches from the bill, and draw in again at 

 pleasure. Its prey is thus transfixed, and drawn into the bill, which, 

 when swallowed, the dart is again launched at fresh game. Nothing 

 has employed the attention of the curious in this part of anatomy, 



