BIRDS. 173 



Chj\f. IV. 



Of IHi; WOODI'ECKKB, AND ITS AFilNITIES. 



We now come to tlie numerous tribe of Woodpeckers : a 

 class easily distinguished from all others, both for their peculiar 

 formation, 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 o\ 

 lite they pursue, being fitted by nature, at all points, for the pe- 

 culiarity of their condition. They live chiefly upon the insects 

 contained in the body of trees ; and for this purpose are furnish- 

 ed with a straight, hard, strong, angular, and sharp bill, made for 

 piercing and boring. 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 purposes of climbing. Their 

 toes stand two forward, and two backward; which is particular- 

 ly serviceable in holding by the branches of the trees. They 

 have hard stiflf tails to lean upon when climbing. They feed 

 only upon insects, and want that intestine which anatomists call 

 the ccccum ,- 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 

 tlie world. They differ in size, colour, and appearance ; and 

 agree only in the marks above mentioned, or in those habits 

 which result from so peculiar a conformation. Instead, there- 

 fore, of descending into a minute discrimination 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 a detail of every animal's pursuits and occupations. 



The Green Woodspite, or Woodpecker is called the rninfowl 

 in some parts of the country ; 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 



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