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VERTEBEATA. 
LOW-BELLIED WooDPECKER, Spliijrapicus vaHus ; Atlantic Ocean to Eocky Mountains, and in 
Greenland. Eed-tiiroated Woodpecker, S. nuchalis ; Eocky Mountains. Eed-breasted 
Woodpecker, S. ruber ; Pacific slope of the United States. Williamson's Woodpecker, S. 
Williamsonii ; Eocky Mountains. Eed-bellied Woodpecker, Centxirus Carolinus ; ISTorthern 
America, from Atlantic to Eocky Mountains. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, 0. flaviventris ; 
Eio Grande Eegion, in United States, and south into Mexico. Gila W^oodpecker, 0. tiropygi- 
alis ; Lower Colorado Eiver of the West. California Woodpecker, Mclanerpes formicivorus ; 
Califoraia and Northern Mexico. Lewis's Woodpecker, 31. torquatus ; Western America. To 
these maybe added the Melanerpes thyroicleus figured by Cassin, found in California and Mexico; 
and the Dryotomus imperialis of Gould, a splendid species, more than two feet long, and the 
largest of known woodpeckers, also figured by Cassin; found in the forests which skirt the 
mountains of Oregon, California, and Mexico. 
THE WRT-NECK. 
THE TUNCIXiE OR WRY-NECKS. 
This group includes only a few species : the Wry-Neck or Cuckoo's Mate, Tunx torquilla — 
Torcol of the French — is the most noted; it is a beautiful bird, though its colors are different 
shades of brown and gray ; its name is derived from its habit of twisting its neck about in various 
directions, which has also given it the title of Snake-Bird. It is six inches long, and feeds largely 
on ants, which it catches upon its glutinous and extensile tongue; it also eats elder-berries. It 
makes its nest in a hollow of a tree, and lays about eight eggs. It inhabits Europe, Asia, and 
Africa ; it is easily tamed, and becomes a pleasing pet in confinement. 
THE PICULETS OR PICUMXIN^. 
These are small birds, closely resembling the woodpeckers, nidifying in holes in trees, which 
they excavate," and laying only two eggs : found in South America, India, and Asiatic islands. 
The Capitonince or Barhets are placed in this connection by some naturalists, but we have 
united them with the Bucconince. 
THE PSITTACID^ OE PAEEOTS. 
The general form of these birds may be stated as short, strong, and compact, but as deficient 
in elegance, especially in the short and even-tailed species, in which the great bulk of the head and 
bill seems disproportioned to the rest of the body. In the Farrakeets this disproportion is in a 
great degree counteracted by the elongation of the tail, and many of them exhibit an elegance and 
gracefulness of carriage surpassed by few other birds. The formation of the feet, which are gygo- 
dactyle, or with the toes placed two forward and two backward, and in all but a few aberrant spe- 
cies, expressly formed for firm prehension and climbing, evidently points to woods and forests as 
