CLIMBERS. 297 
There are certain species of Woodpeckers called by Lacepede Prcoiprs, 
in which the external toe is wanting; having, consequently, but two he- 
fore, and one behind; but, in all other respects, they are similar to the 
common ones. There is one of them in the north and east of Europe. 
P. tridactylus, Edw. 114; Naum. 137. Intermediate, as to size, 
between the Great and Little Spotted Woodpecker; black, spotted 
with white above; calotte of the male orange; that of the female 
white. 
We might also make a subgenus of those species whose slightly arcu- 
ated bill begins to approach the cuckoos*. One of them always seeks 
its food while walking on the ground, although its tail is similar to the 
others}. 
Yunxf, Lin. 
The Torcols or Wrynecks have the extensible tongue of the Wood- 
peckers, which is also moved by the same kind of mechanism, but the 
spines are wanting; their straight and pointed bill is nearly round, and 
without any angles; the quills of their tail are like those of birds in ge- 
neral. Their mode of life is that of the Woodpeckers, except that they 
climb but seldom. There is one of them in Europe. 
Y. torquilla, L.; Enl. 698; Naum. 188. (The Common Wry- 
neek). The size of a lark; brown above, prettily vermiculated with 
small blackish waves, and longitudinal fawn-coloured and black 
streaks; whitish, transversely striped with black beneath. It de- 
rives its name from its singular habit, when surprised, of twisting its 
head and neck in opposite directions. 
The Picumn1, Temm., can scarcely be said to differ from the Wry- 
necks, except in their very short tail. They are very small birds§, some 
of which have but three toes, like the Picoides|]. 
Cucutus**, Lin. 
The Cuckoos have a middling, well-cleft, compressed, and slightly ar- 
cuated bill; the tail long. They live on insects, and are birds of passage. 
We subdivide this numerous genus as follows :— 
colours, are but of little importance, and that it is very possible that among the above 
species, several may be found to constitute but one (a). ; 
* Such as the Picus auratus (Cuculus auratus of the 10th Ed.), Enl. 695, and Wils. 
I, iii; —Picus cafer, Lath., or proméipic, Vaill. Prom. 32;—P. poicilophos, T. Col. 198, 
Felts 
+ Picus arator, Nob., Vaill. Afr. pl. cclv. and cclvi. : . , 
The only additional abstraction that we make from the genus Picus, 18 the P. mi- 
nutus, Lath. (Yunx minutissimus, Gm. Enl. 786, 1; Vieill. Gal. 28), which in fact is a 
Wryneck. 
t Xunx, the Greek name of this bird, Toraquitua the Latin one. : 
§ P. minule, T. (Yuna minutissima), Gm. Enl. 786, 1;—P. &@ toupet (Picumnus cir- 
rhatus, T.), Col. 371, 1; Vieill. Gal. 28;—P. mignon (P. eailis, T.); Col. 571, 2. 
|| P. abnormis, T., Col. 371, 3. F 
** Kokkua, cuculus, cuckoo, expresses the cry of the European species. 
fe (a) The Picus auratus has become the genus Cotartes of Swairson.— 
Ena. Ep. _ 
