82 THE CARPENTER OF THE WOODS. 
can get rid of the insect in such a moment ; 
but his palate is fringed with a number of 
sharp hairs, and against these he draws the 
barbed end of his tongue, and scrapes it 
clean. 
Two strong muscles run through the whole 
length of the tongue, and are enclosed in it as 
in a sheath. They are joined to the skull by 
another broad muscle, which contracts or 
dilates as it is wanted ; and allows the bird 
to dart his tongue several inches beyond the 
bill, and then draw it back in an instant. 
The woodpecker is very cunning in his 
schemes to entrap insects. He is extremely 
fond of ants, but he cannot easily get them ; 
they lie hidden in their ant-hills, too deep down 
for him to reach, so he plays off a stratagem. 
He goes to the ant-hill and gives a tap, in 
order to bring them to the surface. Then he 
thrusts out his long red tongue, and lets it 
Ke quite still, so that the ants may £ake it 
for a worm. They crawl on to it ; and when 
it is quite covered with them, the woodpecker 
gives a jerk, and draws it into his mouth, ants 
and all. 
He cannot do this manj^ times, for the ants 
