102 



HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



from all others, botli for their peculiar forma- 

 tion, their method of procuring food, and their 

 manner of providing a place of safety for their 

 young. Indeed, no other class of birds seems 

 more immediately formed for the method of 

 life they pursue, being fitted by nature, at all 

 points, for the peculiarity of their condition. 

 They live chiefly upon the insects contained 

 in the body of trees ; and for this purpose are 

 furnished with a straight, hard, strong, angu- 

 lar, and sharp bill, made for piercing and bor- 

 ing. They have a tongue of a very great 

 length ; round, ending in a sharp, stiff, bony 

 thorn, dentated on each side, to strike ants 

 and insects when dislodged from their cells. 

 Their legs are short and strong, for the pur- 

 poses of climbing. Their toes stand two for- 

 ward, and two backward ; which is particu- 

 larly serviceable in holding by the branches 

 of the trees. They have hard stiff tails to 

 lean upon when climbing. They feed only 

 upon insects, and want that intestine which 

 anatomists call the ccecum; a circumstance 

 peculiar to this tribe only. 



Of this bird there are many kinds, and 

 many varieties in each kind. They form 

 large colonies in the forests of every part of 

 the world. They differ in size, colour, and 

 appearance ; and agree only in the marks 

 above mentioned, or in those habits which re- 

 sult from so peculiar a conformation. Instead, 

 therefore, of descending into a minute discri- 

 mination of every species, let us take one for 

 a pattern, to which all the rest will be found 

 to bear the strongest affinity. Words can 

 but feebly describe the plumage of a bird ; 

 but it is the province of history to enter into 



is brown, the lower more or less scarlet, and the outer 

 tail-feathers exhibit no tendency towards a barred style 

 of marking, excepting in one species, Diard's trogon, 

 in which the three outer tail-feathers are finely pow- 

 dered with black. 



The African species (trogon narina, Levaill.) closely 

 approximates to its American relatives; but its three 

 outer tail-feathers are unbarred. This species inhabits 

 the dense forests of Cafiraria; during the day it sits 

 motionless on a low dead branch, and it is only in the 

 morning and evening that it displays activity. Locusts 

 and other insects are its principal food. 



Of all the trogons none are so magnificent as the 

 trogon resplendens, lately introduced to the knowledge 

 of the scientific world, as a distinct species by Mr Gould, 

 and admirably figured in his splendid " Monograph " 

 of the family trogonidae. This bird, as stated by Mr 

 Gould, " is to be found only in the dense and gloomy 

 forests of the Southern Slates of Mexico." Little known 

 to Europeans, except within the last few years, the 

 brilliant plumes which fall over the tail (and which, 

 as is the whole of the upper surface of the body of 

 this bird, are of the richest metallic golden green;) 

 were made use of by the ancient Mexicans, as orna- 

 ments on their head-dresses ; and gorgeous must a head- 

 dress be, composed of such feathers soft, flowing, of 

 dazzling lustre, and three feet in length. In later times 

 they have occasionally been transmitted as curiosities 

 to Europe. 



a detail of every animal's pursuits and occu- 

 pations. 



The Green Woodspile, or Woodpecker, is 

 called the rainfowl in some parts of the coun- 

 try; because, when it makes a greater noise 

 than ordinary, it is supposed to foretell rain. 

 It is about the size of a jay ; the throat, breast, 

 and belly, are of a pale greenish colour ; and 

 the back, neck, and covert feathers of the 

 wings, are green. But the tongue of this 

 little animal makes its most distinguished 

 characteristic, as it serves for its support and 

 defence. As was said above, the woodpecker 

 feeds upon insects ; and particularly on those 

 which are lodged in the body of hollow or of 

 rotting trees. The tongue is its instrument 

 for killing and procuring this food ; which 

 cannot be found in great plenty. This is 

 round, ending in a stiff, sharp, bony tip, den- 

 tated on both sides, like the beard of an arrow, 

 and this it can dart out three or four inches 

 from the bill, and draw in again at pleasure. 

 Its prey is thus transfixed, and drawn into the 

 bill, which, when swallowed, the dart is again 

 launched at fresh game. Nothing has em- 

 ployed the attention of the curious in this part 

 of anatomy, more than the contrivance by 

 which the tongue of (his 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 in(o 

 the forementioned bony tip, and running along 

 the length of the tongue. These cartilages, 

 from the root of the tongue, take a circuit be- 

 yond the ears ; and being reflected backwards 

 to the crown of the head, make a large bow. 

 The muscular spongy flesh of the tongue in- 

 closes 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. But there is still another 

 contrivance ; for there is a broad muscle join- 

 ing the cartilages to the bones of the skull, 

 which, by contracting or dilating, forces the 

 cartilages forward through 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, 

 ant's 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 ha- 

 bitation. 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 



