THE PIE KIND. 199 



strument is employed. When a woodpecker, 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, darting 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 stratagem 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 ; how- 

 ever, the bird, watching the properest opportu- 

 nity, withdraws its tongue at a jerk, and devours 

 the devourers. This stratagem it continues till 

 it has alarmed their fears, or till it is quite satis- 

 fied. 



