CLASS II. AYES: ORDER 3. SCANSORES. 



211 



larvae. When they find such a spot they dig into it with great energy, and seize the concealed 

 prize. In climbing they are assisted by the stitF points of their tail-feathers. Their tongue is 

 extensile, and thus facilitates the capture of their insect prey. They feed also on fruits and seeds. 



Genus PICUS : Picus. — This includes the Great Black Woodpeckkr — Pic JVoir of the 

 French — F. mai-tius, sixteen inches long; the body black above, somewhat duller beneath; a 

 bright blood-red spot on the head. Its flight is short, usually limited to a transit from tree to 

 tree ; its nest is made in a hollow tree ; the eggs arc two or three, and ivory-white. On the 

 wing it resembles a crow ; its note is loud and harsh. It inhabits Northern Europe, being rare 

 in the south. 



The Green Woodpecker, P. viridis — Pic Vert of the French; Pico Verde of the Italians; 

 Grun-Specht of the Germans — is called in England by the various names of Woodspite, Pain- 

 Bird, Pain-Fowl, High-Hoe, Heivhole, Awl-Bird, Pick-a-Tree, Yappingale, Yaffil, Yaffle, Yaffler, 

 Woodwall, Whet-He, and Popinjay. It is thirteen inches long ; the neck, back, wings, wing- 

 coverts, and scapulars deep green, tinged with yellow ; rump sulphur-yellow ; under surface ash- 

 green. It is a brilliant and beautiful bird ; nestles and roosts in holes in trees, which it some- 

 times enlarges, or even wholly excavates, using its beak as chisel and hammer ; the eggs are five 

 to seven, laid on loose fragments of wood ; its common note is a loud, harsh sound, which 

 Buff"on thought a doleful cry of misery, while others compare it to a vociferous laugh. It is said 

 to be most merry before an impending shower, and heuce is called Rain-Bird. It is found 

 throughout Europe. 



.^l i 







Wi 



THE GKEAT SPOTTED WOODPKCKEE. 



Tilli MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPKCIiER. 



The Great Spotted Woodpecker, P. major, is nine and a half inches long; found through 

 out Europe. The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, P. minor— Petit Pic of the French, and Gras. 

 Specht of the Germans— is five and three-quarter inches long ; variously colored with white and 

 black ; lives in woods, orchards, and nursery-grounds ; is distributed over Europe, and is common 

 in England. The Middle Spotted Woodpecker, P. medius, is a lustrous black above ; beneath 

 crimson, and a red spot on the head ; found in Southern Europe. The White-backed Wood- 

 pecker, P. leuconotus, is ten inches long, and inhabits the north of Europe and Siberia. The 

 Gray Woodpecker, P. canus, feeds on ants, and inhabits Northern Europe. The Tiiree-toed 



