~ THE NATURAL HISTORY 
When a Woodpecker has found an old decayed 
tree, in which there are worms, or ants egos, or 
infects, he fixes his ftrong claws in the bark, and 
Jeaning on the ftift feathers of the tail, he begins. 
to bore with his bill; and, when. he has opened a 
way into their dwelling, he feafts upon the poor — 
infects, darting his tongue through ri and | 
drawing them into his beak. : 
Sometimes, when he finds an ant-hill on the 
ground, he pecks with his bill and difturbs the 
“ants, he then thrufts out his long red tongue, 
and lays it on the ground: the ants perhaps, think . 
it to be a worm, (for it is very much like one) : 
and as they are very fond of worms, they fettle 
“wpon it in great numbers; the W oe uk: then | 
draws in his tongue, and eats them all, : 
‘The Woodpecker’s bil l} is very. ‘oe “and of 
‘a proper form for boring wood. ‘He makes his — 
neft i in a hollow tree, and bores a round hole i in 
the fide, at which he gets in: but he is very, nice” 
in his choice, and as he can eafily make thefe holes, - 
he fometimes leaves a great many before he fixes” 
upon one. Thofe that he has left, other birds 
that cannot bore fo well, make their nefts cae 
fuch as the Jay and the Starling. Woodpeckers : 
do much mifchief in woods, by boring the trees, 
which afterwards decay, and oe by ftrip- 
ping the bark, =, be 
