ClafsII. GREEN WOODPECKER: 177 



they are provided with a long {lender tongue, armtd 

 with a fliarp boney end barbed on each fide, which 

 by the means of a curious apparatus of mufclcs* 

 they can exert at pleafure, darting it to a great length 

 into the clefts of the bark, transfixing and. drawing 

 put the infefts that lurk there. 



They make their nefts in the hollows of trees : 

 In order therefore to force their way to thofe cavities, 

 their bills are formed ftrong, very hard, and wedge- 

 like at the end ; Dr. Derham obferves, that a neat 

 ridge runs along the top, as if an artifb had dcfigned 

 it for flrength and beauty. 



Their legs are fhort, but ftrong ; their thighs very 

 mufcular: their toes difpofed, two backwards, two 

 forward : the feathers of the tail are very ftiff ; fliarp 

 pointed and bending downwards. The three firii: 

 circumftances do admirably concur to enable them to 

 run up and down the fides of trees with great fecurity ; 

 and the ftrength of the tail fupports them firmly 

 when they continue long in one place, either where 

 they find plenty of food, or while they are forming 

 an accefs to the interior part of the timber. This 

 form of the tail makes their flight very awkward, as 

 it inclines their body down ; and forces them to fly 

 with fhort and frequent jerks when they would afcend 

 or even keep in a line. 



This fpecies feeds oftener on the ground than any 

 other of the genus ; all of them make their nefls in 

 the hollows of trees ; and lay five or fix eggs of a 



* i*li/.iranT, Marfin's tUiridg. III. p, 18 5. plate 3. 



beau- 



