THE PIE KIND. 11!) 



more than the contrivance by which the tongue of this bird performs 

 its functions with such great celerity. The tongue is drawn back 

 into the bill by the help of two small round cartilages, fastened intc 

 the fore-mentioned bony tip, and running along the length of the 

 tongue. These cartilages, from the root of the tongue, take a circuit 

 beyond the ears, and being reflected backwards to the crown of the 

 head, make a large bow. The muscular spongy flesh of the tongue 

 encloses these cartilages, like a sheath, and is so made that it may be 

 extended or contracted like a worm. The cartilages, indeed, have 

 muscles accompanying them along their whole length backwards.- 

 JBut there is still another contrivance, for there is a broad muscle 

 joining the cartilages to the bones of the skull, which, by contract- 

 ing or dilating, forces the cartilages forward througli the tongue, and 

 then forces the tongue and all through the bill, to be employed for 

 the animal's preservation in piercing its prey. 



Such is the instrument with which this bird is provided, and this 

 the manner in which this instrument is employed. When a wood- 

 pecker, by its natural sagacity, finds out a rotten hollow tree, where 

 there are worms, ants' eggs, or insects, it immediately prepares for 

 its operations. Resting by its strong claws, and leaning on the thick 

 feathers of its tail, it begins to bore with its sharp strong beak, until 

 it discloses the whole internal habitation. Upon this, either through 

 pleasure at the sight of its prey, or with a desire to alarm the insect 

 colony, it sends forth a loud cry, which throws terror and confusion 

 into the whole insect tribe. They creep hither and thither, seeking 

 for safety, while the bird luxuriously feasts upon them at leisure, dart- 

 ing its tongue with unerring certainty, and devouring the whole 

 brood. 



The woodpecker, however, does not confine its depredations solely 

 to trees, but sometimes lights upon the ground, to try its fortune at 

 an ant-hill. It is not so secure of prey there as in the former case, 

 although the numbers are much greater. They lie generally too deep 

 for the bird to come at them, and it is obliged to make up by strata- 

 gem the defects of power. The woodpecker first goes to their hills, 

 which it pecks, in order to call them abroad ; it then thrusts out 

 its long red tongue, which being like a worm, and resembling their 

 usual prey, the ants come out to settle upon it in great numbers ; 

 however, the bird watching the properest opportunity, withdraws its 

 tongue at a jerk, and devours the devourers. This stratagem it con- 

 tinues till it has alarmed their fears, or till it is quite satisfied. 



As the woodpecker is obliged to make holes in trees to procure 

 food, so is it also to make cavities still larger to form its nest and to 

 lay in. This is performed, as usual, with the bill, although some have 

 affirmed that the animal uses its tongue as a gimblet to bore with. 

 But this is a mistake, and those that are curious may often hear the 

 noise of the bill making its way in large woods and forests. The 

 woodpecker chooses, however, for this purpose, trees that are decay- 

 ed, or wood that is soft, like beech, elm, and poplar. In these, with 

 very little trouble, it can make holes as exactly round as a mathema^ 

 tician could with compasses. One of these holes the bird generally 

 chooses for its own use, to nestle and bring up its young in ; but as 

 they are easily made, it is delicate in its choice, and often makes 



