PICIDiE, WOODPECKEES. 191 



species are commonly thrown into three divisions, which, however, I shall not 

 present. The ivorj'-bill and the flicker stand nearly at extremes of the faniil}', the 

 little diversity of which is thereby evident. One of our genera, without very 

 obvious external peculiarities, stands apart from the rest in the character of the 

 tongue — a fact that seems to have escaped general attention. In ordinary Pici the 

 " horns" of the tongue are extraordinarily produced backward, as slender jointed 

 bony rods curling up over the skull behind, between the skin and the bone, to the 

 'eyes or even further ; these rods are enwrapped in highly developed, specialized 

 muscles, by means of which the birds thrust out the tongue sometimes several 

 inches beyond the bill. This is not the case in Sphyrapkus, where the liyoid 

 cornua do not extend bej'ond the base of the skull, and the tongue, cousecjuently, is 

 but little more extensible than in ordinary birds. I have determined this by 

 examination of all our species but one, in the flesh. The tongue of Splajrapicus 

 is beset at the end by numerous brushj' filaments, instead of the few acute barbs 

 commonljr observed in the family. (See also under gen. 133.) In most of our 

 species the bill is perfectly straight, wide and stout at the base, tapering regularly 

 to a compressed and vertically truncate tip, chisel-like, and strengthened b}^ sharp 

 ridges on the side of the upper mandible — an admirable tool for cutting into trees ; 

 and in all such, the nostrils are hidden by dense tufts of autrorse feathers. In 

 others, like the flicker, the bill is smooth, barely curved, the tip acute and the 

 nostrils exposed. The claws are always large, strong, sharp and much curved ; the 

 feet do not present striking modifications, except in the three-toed genus Picoides. 

 The wings offer nothing specially noteworthy, unless it be the shortness of the 

 coverts, in exception to the Picariau rule ; and the shortness of the first primary, 

 which may fairly be called spurious. The remarkable character of the tail has been 

 already mentioned. This member offers indispensable assistance in climbing, 

 when the stiff strong quills are pressed against the tree, and form a secure support 

 To this end, the muscles are highly developed, and the last bone (vomer ov j^ijgontijle) 

 is large and peculiar in shape. Woodpeckers rarely if ever hang head downward, 

 like Nuthatches, nor are the tarsi applied to their support. 



Species are abundant in all the wooded portion of this countrj', and wherever 

 found are nearly resident. For, although insectivorous, they feed principally upon 

 dormant or at least stationary insects, and therefore need not migrate ; they are, 

 moreover, hardy birds. Thej' dig insects and their larva2 out of trees, and are eminently 

 beneficial to the agriculturist and fruit grower. Contrary to a prevalent impression, 

 their boring does not seem to injure fruit trees, which maj' be riddled with holes 

 without harmful result. The number of noxious insects these birds destroy is simply 

 incalculable ; what little fruit some of them steal is not to be mentioned in the same 

 connection, and they deserve the good will of all. The birds of the genus Splaj- 

 rapicus are probably an exception to most of these statements. Woodpeckers nest 

 in holes in trees, which they excavate for themselves, sometimes to a great depth, 

 and lay numerous rounded pure white eggs, of which the shell has a crystalline 

 texture, on the chips and dust at the bottom of the hole. The voice is loud and 

 harsh, susceptible of little inflection. The plumage as a rule presents bright colors 

 in large areas or in striking contrasts, and is sometimes highly lustrous. The sexes 

 are ordinarily distinguishable by color-markings. 



Obs. Camp)ej)hilus imperialis, the largest and most magnificent bird of the 

 family, inhabiting Central America, has been attiibuted to the United States, but 

 upon unsatisfactory evidence. (Aud., iv, 213 ; Cass., 285, pi. 49 ; Bd., 82.) 

 Dryocopus lineatus, likewise, was improperly introduced by Audubon (iv, 233). 



