146 SCANSORES. 



Suborder IV. SCANSORES. 



Fourth digit reversed ; front plantar leading to third digit only ; 

 spinal feather-tract well defined on the neck by lateral hare tracts, 

 and continuing single on the upper back, but divided into two 

 branches on the lower back. 



Picus. 

 Deep plantar tendons of Picas martiiis. 



The Scansores appear to be a natural group of birds consistiag of 

 half a dozen families, and rather more than 600 species. Three of 

 these families — the Rhamphastida or Toucans, the Galbulida or 

 Jacamars, and the Bucconidce or Puff-birds — are exclusively Neo- 

 tropical ; a fourth, the Capitonidce or Barbets, is not only Neotropical 

 but also Ethiopian and Oriental ; a fifth, the Indicaforidte or Honey- 

 Guides, is Ethiopian and Oriental ; whilst the sixth, the Picidce or 

 Woodpeckers, is almost cosmopolitan. 



The Piddce is the only family belonging to the Scansores which is 

 represented in the Japanese Empire. 



The genera and subgenera of Japanese Woodpeckers may be 

 diagnosed in the following manner : — 



