PICIDyE: WOODPECKERS. 
479 
Species are abundant in all the wooded portion of this country, and wherever found are 
nearly resident. For, although insectivorous, they feed principally upon dormant or at least 
stationary insects, and therefore need not migrate ; they are, moreover, hardy birds. They dig 
insects and their larvae out of trees, and are eminently beneficial to the agriculturist and fruit- 
grower. Contrary to a prevalent impression, their boring does not seem to injure fruit-trees, 
which may be riddled with lioles without harmful result. The number of noxious insects these 
birds destroy is simply incalculable ; what little fruit some of them steal is not to be mentioned 
in the same connection, and they deserve the good-will of all. The birds of the genus Spliy- 
ropicus are probably an exception to most of these statements. But Woodpeckers also feed 
Iar_gely upon nuts, berries, and other fruits ; and those which thus vary their fare to the greatest 
extent are apt to be more or less migratory, like the common Red-head for example. Wood- 
peckers nest in holes in trees, which they excavate for themselves, sometimes to a great depth, 
aud lay numerous rounded pure white eggs, of which the shell has a smooth crystalline texture 
like porcelain, on the chips and dust at the bottom of the hole. The voice is loud and harsh, 
susceptible of little modulation. The plumage as a rule presents bright colors in large areas or 
in striking contrasts, and is sometimes highly lustrous. The sexes are ordinarily distinguishable 
by color-markings ; the young either show sexual characters from the nest, or have special 
markings of their own. 
Artificial Analysis of If'. A. Genera of PicidcB. 
Toes 3 Picoides 153 
Toes 4. 
Tongue not decidedly extensible. 
Body entirely black ; head white Xenopicus 152 
Body variegated ; head not white Sphyropicus 154 
Tongue very extensible. 
Conspicuously crested ; much over a foot long. 
Bill white ; outer hind toe longer than outer front toe Campephilus 149 
Bill dark ; outer hind toe not longer than outer front toe Hylotomus 150 
Not crested ; a foot long or less. 
Sides of upper mandible distinctly ridged ; wings spotted Picus 151 
Sides of upper mandible indistinctly or not ridged. 
Back lustrous green ; belly carmine Asyndesmus 157 
Back blue-black ; belly white Melanerpes 156 
Back black-barred ; belly black-spotted Colaptes 158 
Back black-barred ; belly not spotted Centurus 155 
149. CAMPEPHILUS. (Gr. KafjLTTT}, kampe, a caterpillar; ^I'Xoj, philos, loving.) Ivory-bills. 
Of largest size, with very strict neck, conspicuously crested head and white bill color black, 
with white on wings and neck, and scarlet crest. Bill longer than head, perfectly straight, 
with truncate tip, bevelled sides, with strong ridges ; broader than high at the base. Gonys 
very long ; more than half the commissure. Nostrils concealed by large nasal tufts ; antrorse 
feathers also at base of lower mandible. Outer hind toe much the longest. Wings pointed ; 
4th, 3d and 5th quills longest ; 2d much shorter ; 1st very short and narrow. Tail very cuneate. 
Containing the largest and most magnificent known Woodpeckers, of several species, peculiar 
to America. 
431, c. principalis. (Lat. principalis, principal ; princeps, chief. Fig. 329.) Ivory-billed 
Woodpecker. ^ ^ : Glossy blue-black ; a stripe down side of neck, one at base of bill, the 
scapulars, under wing-coverts, ends of secondaries and of inner primaries, the bill, and nasal 
feathers white ; feet grayish-blue ; iris yellow. A long pointed crest, in the ^ scarlet faced with 
black, in the 9 black. Length 19.00-21.00 ; extent 30.00-33.00 ; wing 9.75-10.75 ; tail 7.00- 
8.00; bill 2.50 ; tarsus 2.00. Varies much in size ; 9 smaller than the ^. A large powerful 
bird of the S. Atlantic and Gulf States, N. to No. Carolina along the coast, to the Ohio River in 
the interior ; common in the dark heavily wooded swamps, but very wild and wary, and diflBcult 
to secure. Nests high in the most inaccessible trees ; eggs about 6, 1.35 X 1«00. 
