386 
POPPINJAY. 
The tongue is no less wonderfully formed for insinuating- into all the 
smaller crevices to extract the hidden treasure, by transfixing- the larg-er 
insects, or by adhesion withdrawing the smaller ; for, like the wryneck, it 
is furnished with a glutinous substance for that purpose. Nor can we 
less admire the short and strong formation of the legs, and the hooked 
claws, so well calculated to enable them to climb and affix themselves 
against the body of a tree, either to roost, or perforate a hole ; to assist 
which the stiff tail is of infinite use. The jarring noise so frequently 
heard in woods, in the spring, is occasioned by one or other of this 
genus, which, from frequent observation, we have no doubt is used as a 
call by both sexes to each other. It is curious to observe them try 
every part of a dead limb till they have discovered the most sonorous, 
and then the strokes are reiterated with such velocity that the head is 
scarcely perceived to move, the sound of which may be distinctly heard 
half a mile. 
Dr. Plot was mistaken when he conceived this noise to be produced 
by the nuthatch, who says, in describing that bird, “ that, by putting 
their bill into a crack in the bough of a tree, can make such a violent 
sound as if it was rending asunder.” 
Woodpeckers are commonly seen climbing up a tree, but never 
down, as some have asserted. The hole which they make is as perfect 
a circle as if described by a pair of compasses. For the places of nidi- 
fication the softer woods are attacked, the elm, ash, and particularly 
the asp, but rarely the oak. These are only perforated where they 
have symptoms of decay ; and the excavations are frequently deep, to 
give security to their eggs. This species lays four or five white eggs, 
weighing about two drams, which are placed on the rotten wood, with- 
out any nest. The young birds have the appearance of crimson on 
their heads, but not so bright as in adults. 
Ants and their eggs are a favourite repast of this species, for which 
they are frequently seen on the ground searching the emmit hills. 
The tongue is here made use of instead of the bill, similar to that of 
the wryneck. Its note is harsh, and its manner of flying undulated. 
* “ Beauty of plumage,” says Bechstein, “ is the only good quality we 
can perceive in this species ; for in confinement he is so fierce and mu- 
tinous, that it becomes necessary to restrain him with a chain ; never- 
theless, one or two of these birds form a very agreeable variety in the 
aviary : its favourite haunt, during the summer, is the skirts of the 
forests ; but on the approach of winter, it approaches the villages, flying 
from one garden to another during the day, and retiring to a hole in 
some decayed tree on the approach of evening.”* 
