332 



BIRDS. 



employ for clinging to and climbing their trunks. The climbers 

 generally make their nests in the hollows of old trees. Their 

 powers of flight are moderate. Some feed on insects, some on 

 fruits, according to the structure of their beak. In this Order are 

 found the Woodpeckers, the Wrynecks, the Cuckoos, the Parrots, 

 and the Toucans. 



o 



CQ 



a 



FIG. 362. FOOT OF PARROT AXD OF WOODPECKER. 



And angular; tongue very") 

 extensible and armed with > Woodpeckers. 

 spines at the tip . . . . j 



Having 

 the beak 



Straight 



Arched 



And rounded; tongue very") 

 extensible, but without > Wrynecks. 

 spines ....... ) 



Moderate in size and slightly 

 arched ...... 



Large, rounded on all sides,") 

 and having the upper man- > Parrots. 

 dible strongly hooked . . j 



\ Almost as long as the body . Toucans. 



The Woodpeckers (Picus) are distinguished by their long, straight, 

 strong beak, which is angular, adapted for piercing the bark of trees; their 

 remarkable tongue can be extended to a great distance beyond the bill, and 

 is armed near the end with horny barbs directed backwards. Their tail is 

 composed of ten stiff and elastic quills, that serve them as a support when they 

 climb. They all have the habit of tapping and raising up the bark of trees, 

 to seize the insects concealed beneath. Most woodpeckers are marked with 

 red either on the head or body. Their cry is sharp and their flight heavy. 



The Wrynecks ( Yunx) have the protractile tongue of the woodpecker, 

 but without its spines. Their straight and pointed beak is nearly round, with- 

 out any well-marked angles, and is not sufficiently strong to penetrate or raise 

 the bark of trees. Like the woodpeckers, they live on insects, but climb much 



