File:The genera of birds (18988877250).jpg

Order ITT. SCAXSOKKS.
Family III. Picid^.
The fourth Subfamily,
GECININ/E, or Green Woodpeckers,
have the Bill more or less long, strong, and straight, with the base broad, and the sides compressed
towards the tip, which is truncated and acute ; the side sloping, and furnished with a lateral ridge,
which springs from above the nostrils, and runs along near the culmen towards the end of the upper
mandible for two thirds of its length. '
Gecinus Boie.*
Bill more or less long, strong, with the base broad, the sides compressed, and the culmen slightly
curved towards the tip, which is acute ; the lateral ridge runs along near the culmen towards the tip ;
the lateral margins straight, and the gonys long and ascending ; the nostrils basal, and covered by the
projecting plumes. Wings long and rounded, with the fourth quill the longest. Tail moderate and
graduated, with the tip of each quill pointed and rigid. Tarsi short, and covered with broad scales in
front. Toes unequal, the outer pair the longest, and nearly equal in length ; the claws large, strong,
curved, and compressed.
All the species of this genus are found in most parts of the Old World. They reside singly or in pairs in the
wooded districts, forests, or jungles ; and are usually observed scaling the trunks and branches of the trees, with the
assistance of their tail, either in an upright or spiral direction, and if they descend it is generally performed in a
backw ard progress. The strength of their bills enables them to tear oft' the bark, or form holes in the decayed portions
of the branches, for the purpose of discovering the retreats of insects and their larvae. They occasionally break the
shells of nuts for the kernel, on which they feed, when there is a scarcity of their usual food. Their lengthened tongue
is covered with a glutinous substance, which occasions insects to adhere to it, especially ants, which some species more
usually seek for on the ground. The eggs are deposited on the bare wood, in holes which are formed in decayed trees
by means of their bill for a considerable depth. When engaged in this operation the strokes of the bill are given so
quickly that the head is hardly observed to move, and the noise this occasions may he heard to a great distance.
1. G. viridis (Linn.) Boie, PI. enl. 879- 37 1. 6'. G. squamatus (Vigors), Proc. Z. S. 1830. p. 8., Gould, Cent.
2. G. Karelini Brandt, Bull. Petersb. x. p. 2. of B. pi. 48. — Picus dimiiliatus Gray, Ind. Zool. pi. 29. f. 1.,
3. G. canus (Gmel.) Boie, Edwards's Birds, pi. 65. — Picus cliloris Jard. & Selby, 111. Orn. pi. 108.
Pall.; P. viridi-canus Meyer; P. norvegicus Lath. ; P. viridis • 7. G. flavinucha (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1833. p. 120. — Picus
Xaitm. ; P. caniceps Nilx. (Dryotomus) flavigula Hodgs. Journ. A. S. Beng. 1837. p. 106.
4. G. awokera (Temm.) PI. col. 585. 8. G. nipalensis (Gray), Ind. Zool. pi. 31. f. 1.— Picus mentalis
5. G. occipitalis (Vigors), Proc. Z. S. 1830. p. 8., Gould, Cent. Jerd. ; P. chlorolophus Vieill.?
of B. pi. 47- — Picus barbatus Gray, Ind. Zool. pi. 31. f. 2.

• Established in 1831 by M. Boie (Iris, p. 542.). It is coequal with Brachylophus of Mr. Swainson (1837).