generally considered to be placed two before and two behind, yet such is not strictly the case; for the outer one of the hind toes, which is very long, branches outwards in a lateral direction, so as to apply itself length

THE FOOT OF THE WOODPECKER.

wise down the trunk of a tree, during the process of climbing; and besides this, the other toes considerably diverge, so as to spread over an area as extensive as possible, in order that their grasp or application may be the more strong and effectual; a point not only of consequence during the progress of the bird up a tree, but perhaps even more so, while it is engaged in its laborious work of splitting the bark, or chipping away the wood, in search of insects, or in scooping out a hole for its nest. The characters of the Woodpecker's foot, will be well seen in the foregoing sketch. But in addition to the advantages thus derived from the powers of the feet, no bird is more indebted to the structure of its tail, as a co-operating agent, than the Woodpecker. Its tail, in fact, is an

essential support, and not this only, but even a propelling instrument, calculated to aid the bird as it climbs. It is composed of ten feathers, the central ones having the shafts strong, elastic, slightly bent inwards, and gradually narrowing to a point, which projects beyond the web. Thus pressed against a tree, these points being driven inwards, and catching every projecting roughness, the tail acts as a springy support or prop.

In addition to this, the webs of these central feathers, at least of many species, are not flat, but obliquely fixed on the shafts, so that their edges come in contact with the body up which the bird is climbing; and being composed of stiff plumelets, like split whalebone, with sharp points, they subserve also to the great end in view, forming several continuous lines of support for the superincumbent weight.

Nothing can be more efficient for the purposes intended, than the beak of the Woodpecker, that is, for splitting and chipping the trees: at its base it is strong and thick, narrowing as it proceeds, till it ends in a hard wedgeshaped tip, compressed at its sides. If the bill is an admirable wedge and chisel, the tongue is no less admirable as a flexible probe: long and worm-like, it is capable, by a peculiar muscular apparatus, of being protruded to a great extent, and is armed at its tip with a series of short spines directed backwards; in addition to which it is covered with a viscid saliva. This organ, endued with great latitude of motion, the bird inserts into the crevices of the bark, into the fissures it makes with its beak, or into any aperture, in search of insects and their larvæ, and withdraws it; the prey adhering to it by means of the saliva, and being prevented from rubbing off by the retroverted bristles which barb the tip. Such are the characters of this group, taken as a whole. There are however a few genera, in which we find them modified; we may instance the genus Colaptes, or that of the Ground Woodpeckers, birds which do not exclusively confine themselves to the trees, but visit the earth in quest of food, which consists of ants and other insects, as

well as of fruits and corn. The beak we find here to be much more slender, and slightly bent, though still a powerful instrument; and the tarsi and feet are less strongly formed. The beautiful Golden-winged Woodpecker (Colaptes auratus) is an example. We may also notice a genus of three-toed Woodpeckers, having two toes before and only one behind; the genus Picoïdes, (Lacépède,) and another with flexible tail-feathers, the genus Picumnus.

Buffon, with his usual flippancy, has condemned the whole family of Woodpeckers as degraded miserable beings; in fact, as parallel to the sloth as it stands in his semi-philosophical work. He says, "The narrow circumference of a tree circumscribes their dull round of life;" and on this they are "constrained to drag out an insipid existence in boring the bark and hard fibres, in order to extract their prey, -"leading a mean and gloomy life, without intermission of labour;" while their "appetite is never softened by delicacy of taste." Such are his sentiments, and much more might be added to the same purpose; but Buffon saw not God in His works, nor felt the influence of His glory as exhibited in creation. Hence his pictures are distorted caricatures, and often totally false, without a shadow of true resemblance. So it is with regard to the Woodpeckers, a group of active, animated, lively, beings; noisy and restless, flitting from tree to tree, and busy in their appointed work. But we will introduce a few of the most remarkable of this family to the notice of our reader, in order that he may judge for himself.

Our British species are the Greater Spotted Woodpecker, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, and the Green Woodpecker. To this we may add, that the Great Black Woodpecker has been killed in England; but nevertheless cannot be considered as truly British.

The GREAT BLACK WOODPECKER (Picus Martius,) is the largest of its European congeners, being in length about seventeen inches; it is common in the dense

forests of Russia, and also of Germany. Its colour is jet black, with the exception of the crown, which in the male is rich vermilion. The female is duller, and has either no vermilion on the head, or only a small patch. This fine bird is, however, far inferior in size to the celebrated IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER, (Picus principalis,) of North America, which has been so admirably described both by Wilson and Audubon, and which, till very lately, has been considered the largest of the race. Wilson observes, that in strength and magnitude the Ivory-billed Woodpecker "stands at the head of the whole class hitherto discovered." He was not aware, when he wrote, of the existence of a species in California, which as far exceeds the Ivory-billed Woodpecker as this does the Picus martius of Europe. This giant of its race is the Picus imperialis, the first notice of which occurs in the Proceedings of the Zool. Soc. vol. ii. p. 139. In length it is two feet. Of its manners we have no account; most probably they correspond in all respects with those of the Ivory-billed species, which it closely resembles, and to which we direct our reader's attention.

The IVORY-BILled WoodpeckER (Picus principalis) is a native of the deep swampy forests of the United States of America, but is never seen in the middle states, the woods there appearing unsuited to its habits." Descending the Ohio," says Audubon, "we meet with this splendid bird for the first time, near the confluence of that beautiful river and the Mississippi; after which, following the windings of the latter, either downward toward the sea, or upwards in the direction of the Missouri, we frequently observe it. North Carolina may be taken as the limit of its distribution, although now and then an individual may be accidentally seen in Maryland.". "The lower parts of the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi," are its favourite regions. Here it takes up its abode amidst the almost inaccessible forests of noble cypress-trees, which rise towering from black and gloomy swamps of prodigious extent; some in all the luxuriance of maturity; some moss-grown, as if

hoary with time; some bare and leafless, emblems of decay; some prostrate, their huge trunks appearing from out the slimy ooze, whose surface is carpeted with flags

and water-lilies, concealing a treacherous morass, the abode of frogs, serpents, and alligators, and the stronghold of pestilence. Such are the favourite localities of this interesting bird. Here, says Wilson, "amidst ruin