6 
THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 
perhaps^ no birds more admirably calculated to prove design 
and intelligence in their formation than the woodpeckers ; 
whether we consider their large feet for grasping the inequa- 
lities of the bark, the rigid^ sharp-pointed tail to support the 
body against the tree, the wedge-shaped beak^ almost as 
strong and sharp as steely the barbed tongue for bringing 
out the worm from the hole when bored^ or the curious me- 
chanism for lengthening the tonguO;, by carrying its bone^, the 
OS hyoides^ round the back of the skull to the nostril^ so that 
it shall be sufficient to probe to the inmost recesses of the 
holes^ and bring the insidious inhabitant to the light of day. 
All manifest infinite wisdom and skill. 
C. — The land here on both sides is " black-timbered/' 
What a sombre and even gloomy appearance such a forest 
has, when compared with the hard-woods. 
jF. — That is partly owing to the black-wood or ever- 
green trees being in thick foliage^ while the hard-wood or 
deciduous trees are leafless and open to the light ; but it is so 
in a degree even in summer^ and arises from the fact, that 
the foliage is opaque, or at least not so pellucid as the deci- 
duous leaves ; besides, that the timber on such land is usually 
much more close and dense. 
C. — The evergreens appear in winter of a much brighter 
hue than in summer. 
F, — That is merely a deception : the hue is the same, 
a dark green ; which shows to advantage contrasted with 
the brown twigs and grey trunks of winter ; but in summer, 
when compared with the rich and massive green of the beech 
or maple, seems almost black. In spring, the tops of the 
evergreens assume a more verdant appearance, as the young 
leaf-buds then open ; but amidst the greater change which is 
