140 



PICID^E. 



nostrils, that the bird had been at work at an ant-hill, and 

 this species is therefore more frequently seen on the ground 

 than any other of our Woodpeckers ; it is said also to be 

 a great enemy to bees. Bechstein says that the Green 

 Woodpecker will crack nuts. 



Another anatomical peculiarity remarkable in the skele- 

 ton of the Woodpecker, but admirably adapted to the 

 habits of the bird, is the small size of the keel of the 

 breast-bone. Moderate powers of flight, sufficient to trans- 

 port the bird from tree to tree, are all that it seems to 

 require ; large pectoral muscles with a deep keel to the 

 breast-bone would to this bird be an inconvenience. The 

 advantage of a narrow shallow keel is immediately appa- 

 rent, on looking at a representation of the skeleton in a 

 climbing position : the low keel allowing the bird to place 



