266 AVES : PICI. — XLIV. 



coloration. In many the bill is disproportionately large. (Lat., 

 alcedo, kingfisher.) 



o. Bill compressed, the culmen carinate ; head crested ; aquatic, feeding on 

 fishes Ceryle, 440. 



440. CERYLE Boie. (xripvkos, kingfisher.) 

 841. C. alcyon (L.). Belted Kingfisher. Ashy blue above, 

 a bluish band across breast ; white below ; tail black, speckled and 

 barred with white ; 9 with sides and band across belly chestnut. 

 L. 13. W. 6. T. 3^. B. 2. N. Am., everywhere common. 

 (Lat., kingfisher.) 



Order XLIV. PICI. (The Woodpeckers and 

 Wrynecks.) 



A small order composed of the Woodpeckers, and two closely 

 related families. Feet zygodactyle, the outer toe permanently re- 

 versed, the hind toe wanting in one genus ; metatarsus modified in 

 connection with the reversed toe; wing with 10 primaries and short 

 secondary coverts ; tail with 10 quills, besides which, in the wood- 

 peckers, is an outer pair of partly concealed spurious quills ; bill 

 straight, hard and strong ; palate saurognathous ; sternum double- 

 notched behind ; salivary glands large. (Lat., picus, woodpecker.) 

 a. Nostrils covered by feathers ; tail feathers rigid and acute. Picid.*, 159. 



Family CLIX. PICID^. (The Woodpeckers.) 



Bill stout, usually straight, with the tip truncate or acute, fitted 

 for hammering or boring into wood. Tongue long, flattish, barbed, 

 capable of great protrusion, adapted for securing insects (except in 

 Sphyrapicus) ; hyoid apparatus peculiar, its horns generally quite 

 long, curving around the skuU behind and over forward again to 

 the ear or beyond. Feet zygodactyle, the hind toe sometimes wan1> 

 ing ; claws compressed, sharp and strong. Tail feathers 1 2, rigid 

 and acuminate, the outer pair short, concealed ; tail never forked ; 

 nasal tufts present. 



Chiefly arboreal ; all (except Sphyrapicus, which is truly a " Sap- 

 Sucker,") are pre-eminently insectivorous. For this reason these 

 birds are of the greatest service to the farmer. Voice loud and 

 harsh. Colors generally bright, the male at least having almost al- 

 ways red on the head ; sexes usually slightly difEerent. Species 

 250, abundant almost everywhere, 

 o. Outer hind toe longer than outer anterior (middle) toe. 



b. Head with a conspicuous crest; (size verj large; bill pale). 



Campephilus, 441. 

 66. Head not crested. 



c. Tongue pointed, highly extensible, as usual among woodpeckers • (no 



yellowish on bellj')' 



