WOODPECKERS. 323 



§ 25. The PICID^ (or Woodpeckers') form a remark- 

 ably distinct group, characterized by having two toes in front, 

 and two (or only one) behind ; ten primaries, of which the 

 first is spurious, and a stiff tail of twelve feathers, of which 

 the outermost are also spurious. 



In Colaptes (standing at one end of the group, and next 

 to the Cuckoos), the bill is three or four times as long as 

 high, rather slender, pointed, and with the commissure, as 

 well as the upper outline, convex ; the nostrils are exposed. 



In Dryobates (a genus near the other end, containing typ- 

 ical Woodpeckers), the bill is stouter, the outlines nearly 

 straight, the end blunted or truncate, and the nostrils con- 

 cealed. In other genera, the bills are more or less interme- 

 diate. In this family, as in some others, it has not been 

 thought advisable to present certain divisions in classification, 

 which have been recently established in scientific works. 



(See figs. 18 and 19, and pi. 1, fig. 25.) 



In Colaptes, the birds are largely terrestrial, feed much 

 upon ants, and frequently perch upon branches crosswise. 



In Sphyrapiciis, the birds possess a peculiar tongue, and 

 do mischief by stripping ofE bark, and feeding on the lining. 



In JPicoicles, the birds are three-toed, and boreal. 



In CeopJiloeus, the birds are crested, and wholly (?) non- 

 migratory. 



The Woodpeckers are all more or less brightly colored, at 

 least the males, and the sexes are differently colored.* They 

 are principally noted for hopping about the trunks and larger 

 limbs of trees, supported by their tails, and rapidly hammer- 

 ing with their biUs to extract the grubs, etc., upon which they 

 feed, as well as on berries, or sometimes even grain. They 

 are often social, but never strictly gregarious, so far as I 

 have observed, partly, perhaps, because permanent residents 

 in their summer homes or only partially migratory. They 

 frequent forests, woods, and orchards, where they build their 

 nests by excavating a neat hole in sound or decayed wood. 



* To this there are exceptions ; as, sexes of which are alike in color. — 

 for example, in the case of the Red- W. B. 

 headed Woodpecker (25, 11, A), the 



