PERCHING BIRDS. 219 



their throats, which takes up small insects by 

 adhesion. They live in the holes of trees, some 

 of which they make, or partially enlarge, by the 

 aid of their strong and sharp bills ; and in these 

 holes they deposit their eggs. 



An old tree is everything to the woodpecker, 

 for there he finds food, shelter, and a nursery. 

 There are countless beetles, flies, and grubs, which 

 mine into the old wood, and drill it through and 

 through. For these he digs into the bark with 

 his beak ; but he uses his tongue in drawing them 

 out, as with a hook. When he comes to a hollow 

 place he taps it with his bill, making a noise like 

 the beating of a drum. He utters a noisy, merry 

 note, which has been compared to a laugh, and it 

 is said that this sound is more frequently heard 

 when rain is at hand. Hence, he has been called 

 the rain-bird ; and it is worthy of note that these 

 birds were called by the old Komans Pluvice Aves, 

 for the same reason. 



There are three or four kinds found in this 

 country the green, the great, and the lesser- 

 spotted woodpeckers ; but, with allowance for dif- 

 ference of situation, the habits of all are the same. 



The GREEtf WOODPECKER is the most common, 

 and accordingly the best known among British 

 species, and is found over most of the wooded 

 districts of England and Scotland. Insects of 



