6 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 



perhaps, no "birds more admirably calculated to prove design 

 and intelligence in their formation than the woodpeckers ; 

 whether we consider their large feet for grasping the inequa- 

 lities of the bark, the rigid, sharp-pointed tail to support the 

 body against the tree, the wedge-shaped beak, almost as 

 strong and sharp as steel, the barbed tongue for bringing 

 out the worm from the hole when bored, or the curious me- 

 chanism for lengthening the tongue, by carrying its bone, the 

 os hyoides, round the back of the skull to the nostril, so that 

 it shall be sufficient to probe to the inmost recesses of the 

 holes, and bring the insidious inhabitant to the light of day. 

 All manifest infinite wisdom and skill. 



C. The land here on both sides is " black-timbered." 

 What a sombre and even gloomy appearance such a forest 

 has, when compared with the hard- woods. 



jP. That is partly owing to the black-wood or ever- 

 green trees being in thick foliage, while the hard-wood or 

 deciduous trees are leafless and open to the light ; but it is so 

 in a degree even in summer, and arises from the fact, that 

 the foliage is opaque, or at least not so pellucid as the deci- 

 duous leaves ; besides, that the timber on such land is usually 

 much more close and dense. 



C. The evergreens appear in winter of a much brighter 

 hue than in summer. 



F. That is merely a deception : the hue is the same, 

 a dark green ; which shows to advantage contrasted with 

 the brown twigs and grey trunks of winter ; but in summer, 

 when compared with the rich and massive green of the beech 

 or maple, seems almost black. In spring, the tops of the 

 evergreens assume a more verdant appearance, as the young 

 leaf-buds then open ; but amidst the greater change which is 



