164 



n. 



THE THIRD ORDER. 



SCANSORES OB CLIMBERS. 



This order is composed of birds whose external toe is di- 

 rected backwards, like the thumb, whereby they have a 

 more solid support, of which some of the genera avail 

 themselves, by hanging and climbing on the trunks of 

 trees. Hence they have been named, in common, 

 climbers, (scansores ;) although, strictly speaking, the 

 term does not apply to them all ; and many birds climb 

 without belonging to this order, by the arrangement of 

 the toes, as the creepers and nuthatches. 



The birds proper to this order build, in general, in holes 

 of old trees. Their flight is middling. Their food, like 

 that of the Passeres, consists of insects and fruits, accord- 

 ing as their bill is more or less strong. Some, as the 

 woodpeckers, have peculiar means of obtaining their 

 food. Cuvier. 



ORDER SCANSORES. 



The Green Woodpecker. 

 Picus Viridis. 



THIS is one of those shy birds which is not very 

 often seen, except by those whose business or 



