. PIC 
their nefts in rocks, or on the ground, thefe fliew 
an invariable predilcftion for trees and bufhes. 
The male participates in the toil of building the 
neft; and often relieves his mate in tlie duties of 
incubation: both take this office by turns; and, 
when the young are excluded, both are equally 
aftive in making an ample provifion. 
Birds of the Pye kind fometimes live in focie- 
ties, in which general laws are obferved; and a 
fpecies of republican form of government is ob- 
ferved among them. They not only watch for 
the general fafety, but for that of every other bird 
of the grove. How often are fowlers difap- 
pointed in their game, by the alarming note of a 
crow or a magpie! It's fingle voice gives the 
whole feathered tribe warning, and teaches them 
to fecurea retreat in due time. 
Nor are thefe birds lefs remarkable for their 
capacity for inftruftion than their inftincls. 
There is an apparent cunning or archnefs in the 
looks of the whole tribe ; and ravens and crows 
may be taught to fetch and carry like a fpaniel. 
Indeed, many of this tribe, without any previous 
inftruftion, are but too fond of fuch exercife. 
Every perlbn muft be fenfible what a pafTion they 
have for brilliant objefts, and fuch toys as man- 
kind frequently value. A whole family has been 
alarmed by the lofs of a ring; every fervant has 
been fufpefled in turn; when, to the confufion 
and amazement of falfe accufers, it has been found 
in the neft of a tame magpie or jack-daw, where 
it was leaft of all expefled. 
However, as this clafs is extremely numerous, 
it is not to be fuppofed that the manners of all 
are alike : fome few are gentle, and ferviceable to 
man; others are noxious, capricious, and noify. 
In a few general characfters they all agree; in hav- 
ing hoarfe voices, flight a£live bodies, and a faci- 
lity of flight that baffles even the fwifteft and 
boldefl; of the rapacious kinds in the purfuit. 
PICICTLI. A bird defcribed by Nierem- 
berg as a native of the Spanifli Wefl Indies. 
It's head and neck are black; and it's whole 
body is grey. It is a bird of paflTage, making 
it's appearance in Mexico a little after the rainy 
feafon; but the place where it breeds is un- 
known. 
PICKERELL. A provincial appellation for 
the jack or pike. 
PICUIPINIMA. A Brazilian fpecies of pi- 
geon, not much larger than the fl<;y-lark. The 
head, neck, and wings, are of a pale lead-colour, 
with a black femilunar mark at the extremity of 
each wing; but the long wing-feathers, which 
are feen when the wings are expanded in flying, 
are of a reddifli brown hue on one fide, and black- 
ifli on the other, with black tips. The tail is 
long, and variegated with black, white, and 
brown; and the plumage on the belly is white, 
marked vv'ith femnlunar fpots. 
PICUS, OR PICUS MARTIUS. A large 
penus of bia-ds of the wood-pecker kind; the cha- 
rafters of which are thefe: that they have a 
llraight, hara, fl:rong, fliarp bill, proper for mak- 
ing holes in trees; and a very long, cylindric- 
fliaped tongue, terminated by a fharp, bony fpine, 
ferrated or notched at each end, adapted for feiz- 
ing on, and tearing their food. Their thighs are 
very fhortand fcrong; their toes are four in num- 
ber, placed two before and two behind; and their 
tails are fliff", and bent downwards, conflfting of 
ten feathers, bare at their extremities. 
Some underftiand the word Picus in a larger 
fenfe, comprehending under it the Sitta, Picus 
Murarius, Junco, Certhia, and all birds that climb 
trees. In this exrenflve fenfe the charafters of 
the genus are; that they have very fliort, thick, 
fl:rong legs, adapted to the running up the bo- 
dies and branches of trees. 
In the Linnasan diftribution of nature, the Pi- 
cus conftitutes a diftin61 genus of birds of the or- 
der of picK. The charatlers of tliis genus, ac- 
cording to that celebrated naturaiift, are ; that the 
bill is ftraight and angular, terminating in the 
form of a wedge ; that the noflrils are' covered 
with briftly feathers, refleded downwards; that 
the tongue is long, cylindric, formed for feizino- 
worms, lliarp-pointed, and jagged; and that the 
feet are formed for climbing. Linnseus enume- 
rates twenty-one fpecies. 
PICUS IMBPJFCETUS; the Picus Princi- 
palis of Linnasus. An American bird defcribed 
by Nieremberg, and called by the natives Qua- 
toto-mimi. It is about the fize of the hoopoe: 
the beak is long; the head is fmall and red, 
adorned with a beautiful creft of the fame colour; 
on each fide of the neck a broad white line paffes 
on to the breafl:; and the legs and feet, which 
prove it's affinity to the wood-pecker tribe, are 
of a blueifh colour. It builds on high trees; 
feeds on infccls; and is principally found near the 
fnores of the Sou' h Sea, See Ipecu. 
PICUS MURARIUS. An appellation by 
which fome ornithologifl;s exprefs the bird known 
in England by the name of the wall-creeper, and 
improperly ranked among the Pici; it belonging 
to the genus of certhia, or creeper, which, exclu*^ 
five of this fpecies, comprehends twenty-four 
others. It is about the fize of the common fpar- 
row: the bill is black, long, and flender; the 
head, neck, and back, are grey ; the breaft is 
white; and the wings are partly grey, and partly 
red. The tail is fliort and black; the long wing- 
feathers, the lower part of the belly, and the legs, 
(which are fhort) are of the lame colour. 
This bird is common in Italy, Germany, and 
fome parts of France. It is extremely lively and 
aftive; and as the common wood-pecker climbs 
trees, and feeds on the infefts in their cracks and 
cavities; fo this bird runs up old walls, and feeds 
on what it finds in their interflrices. 
PICUS NIDUM SUSPENDENS. A name 
by which fome have exprefied the galbula; a yel- 
low bird of the thrufli kind, remarkable for it's 
beauty, and the curious manner of fufpending 
it's nefc. 
PICUS SALUTIFERUS. An appellation 
under which Mieremberg has defcribed a Mexi- 
can bird, called by the natives Henquecholtotod, 
It is about the fize of the common blackbird: the 
beak is long and black; the head, and part of the 
neck, are red, the former being adorned wmh a 
red crefi; and the breaft and belly are grey. 
This bird is of the v^'ood-pecker kind; and re- 
ceives it's name from the fuppofed virtues of it's 
feathers, particularly thofe of the creft, in curing 
the head-ach. 
PIERCER. The Engliffi appellation for that 
genus of fhell-fifli more commonly called the te- 
redo; the eliftinguifhing character of which is, 
that the fliell is flender and bendinp-, 
PIETERMAN. A name ufed°by fome ich- 
thyologifts to exprefs a fifli of the cuculus kind, 
approaching to the nature of the draco marinus, 
or v/eever; and more ufually defcribed by it's 
Brazilian appellation, Niqui. 
PIEXE- 
