Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/217

204 by the horny tip of the tongue being set with numerous fine barbs on each side, pointing backwards; the fine point readily pierces the skin of the insect, the barbs yielding as it enters, but when once within it cannot without much force be withdrawn, the barbs having expanded within the skin, and so the insidious grub, despite his efforts to maintain his tenancy, is dragged forth by the powerful contraction of the Woodpecker's elastic tongue.

And here let us pause a moment, and turn our thoughts from the bird before us to the Almighty, who created it for His praise; from the beautiful contrivances we have been admiring, to the Eternal Mind whose wisdom designed, and whose skill executed them. "For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even ;" so that we should be without excuse, if, discerning such wondrous proofs of the fatherly love of God even to his irrational creatures, we "glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful."

The Woodpeckers are widely scattered over both continents; no representative of the form has, however, been discovered in Australia. They chiefly affect the forests, and are among the comparatively few birds that do habitually prefer their solemn sylvan recesses. Their flight is weak and undulating; their voices loud, harsh, and sudden. They lay their eggs and bring up their young in capacious chambers, which are hollowed out of the trunks of trees by the means of their powerful beaks. Their compact, well-built form indicates strength rather than grace: their