THE WOODPECKER. 79 



Murantius) is just as unseasonably jovial. He is 

 jolliest when on the wing ; if you watch after hearing 

 his ringing cackle, you will generally be rewarded 

 by a sight of his somewhat ungainly form, as, with 

 head outstretched and legs drawn up, he progresses 

 with his curious flight — first a flutter and then a dip 

 with closed wings — ^to some tree-trunks which he 

 intends to explore. He is not shy, and will 

 readily permit you to admire his old-gold back 

 and scarlet crest as he hitches himself up the 

 bark, sounding for insects as he goes. His motto 

 is ever excelsior, for Woodpeckers always work 

 upwards, though they can slip down backwards 

 or laterally round the trunk of their tree if they wish- 

 The foot of the Woodpecker, with the toes in pairs 

 is supposed to be especially fitted for this kind of 

 traveUing. But this is open to doubt ; some other 

 birds which do not climb, like the Woodpeckers, near 

 relatives the barbets, have the same arrangement ; 

 and if it be so convenient for a chmbing bird to have 

 two toes behind instead of one, why are the Wood- 

 peckers as a family gradually getting rid of the inner 

 hind toe ? This is always smaller than the outer one, 

 and not unfrequently absent altogether ; while in 

 some species, as in the Golden-backed one under 

 discussion, the toe is there indeed, but in the form of a 

 tiny useless vestige that has to be' looked for carefully. 



