143 
We now, in the natural order of succession, arrive 
at the Scansores, or Climbing Perchers, the last tribe 
of the great order Insessores. The Scansorial fa- 
milies of W estem Africa consist of the Picidce or 
Woodpeckers, the Pittacidw or Parrots, and the 
Cuculidce or Cuckoos. Of the two others, the 
Creepers and the Toucans, no examples have yet 
occurred. We commence with the extensive fa- 
mily of 
PICIDiE, OR TIIR WOODPECKERS. 
The ornithologist will find so full an exposition of 
the natural divisions of this family in tw r o of our 
preceding works*, that in a local fauna like this 
these details need not he recapitulated. On such 
groups, however, as occur in this part of Africa W’e 
may advantageously introduce a few remarks. It 
will be seen from what we have already stated re- 
garding the circle of the pre-eminently typical wood- 
peckers, that there are two genera standing at its 
confines which lead different ways. One of these is 
the genus Dendrocopus of Kock, composed of the 
small and middle-sized black and white woodpeckers 
so common in temperate latitudes: these are at 
once known by their peculiarity of plumage, their 
short and thick neck, elongated hind toe, and some- 
* Northern Zoology, ii. 308. — Classification of Birds, ii. 
