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different organs are nearly the same in ajl 
the species, we shall, in order to prevent 
repetition, give only a general description 
in this place. The beak of the Wood- 
pecker is large, strong, and fitted for its 
employment. The end of it is formed like 
a wedge, with which it pierces the bark 
of trees, and bores into the wood in search 
of its food, which consists of insects, par- 
ticularly those which are lodged in the 
cavity of hollow or rotten trees, or in the 
interstices of the bark. Traversing up 
the trunk of the tree, and round about it, 
(but never downwards, as some have as- 
serted,) he keeps striking with his beak, 
and when the place sounds hollow, stops, 
and by continued blows, penetrates a hole 
in the bark, sufficient to receive his beak, 
which he then thrusts in, and sends forth 
a loud whistling into the cavity, in order 
to disengage the insects, and put them in 
motion; which he has no sooner done, 
than he makes use of his tongue, which 
proves an excellent instrument for pro-' 
curing this food; as it is long, and tapered 
like an earth-worm, and tipped with a 
