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This bird will frequently suffer the 
sportsman to approach the tree whereon 
it has alighted, endeavouring to conceal 
itself by running round the branches. 
The cry of this bird is generally believed 
by the vulgar to foretel rain; and as all 
birds are allowed to have a foresight into 
the state of the atmosphere, superstition 
seems in all ages to have ascribed to it 
the most profound and wonderful sagacity. 
In the Mythology of the Ancients, Picus 
was considered the son of Saturn, and 
father of Faun us, and grandfather of king 
Latinos. For despising the love of Circe, 
he was changed into a Green Woodpecker: 
he became one of the rural gods, under 
the name of Picumnus. While the she 
wolf suckled Romulus and Remus, this 
sacred Woodpecker was seen to alight on 
their cradle. 
Pliny relates a curious incident, which 
exhibits in the ancient Romans, two 
qualities that might be deemed incom- 
patible, superstitious observance and ele- 
vation of sentiment. 
"A Woodpecker alighted on the head 
