( 5°9 ) 
II. A Defcription of that curious Natural Machine , 
the Wood-Peckers Tongue, <&c. By Richard 
Waller Efq 3 late Secretary to the Royal Society. 
"^HE Ficus Martius or Wood-Pecker has feveral 
Particularities in the Structure and Mechanifm of 
its whole Body, which may deferve a nice and accurate 
Obfervation and Defcription : all which are wifely con- 
trived and adapted, either for catching the Food and $u- 
ftenance of the individual, or continuing the Species. 
That this Bird makes a round Hole even in found and 
hard Trees, fuch as the Oak, Horn-beame, Beech and 
the like, is commonly obferved ; and that within thele 
Holes, the Hollow being enlarged, the Neft is made, 
the Eggs laid and Hatch’d ; and the young Brood fed, 
as by other Birds. 
For this purpofe, that he may be enabled to perform 
fuch hard work, the Mufcles of his Neck, Breaft, and 
Thighs, are exceeding ftrong in proportion to the bignefs 
of the Bird .• he has alfo a very firm ftrong (harp Bill, 
his legs are ftrengthned with very ftrong Tendons ; and 
his Toes, which are two before and two behind, (as it is in 
fome other Birds) are provided with (harp ftrong hooked 
Claws or Talons : Befides this, his Tail confifts of ten 
very ftifF large and ftrong Quills, firmly fet into a robuft 
ftrong Uropy^ium or Rump ; fo that when he has faftened 
his Claws and Feet into the Clefts and Inequalities of the 
Bark of the Tree, he claps his ftrong Tail-Feathers a- 
gainft the Body of the Tree ; and fo ftands with his 
Head eretft, to give the ftrokes with his Bill with the 
greater Force. 
K k k k 
Thar 
