1. This is the mode of the sexual intercourse of the partridge, and
the way in which they are caught, and the nature of the rest of their
crafty disposition. Quails, and partridges, and some other birds make
their nest upon the ground, as it has been already observed. Of such
birds the lark, woodcock, and quail do not perch upon trees, but upon
the ground.
2. The woodpecker does not settle upon the ground, but it strikes
trees in order to drive out the worms and flies which they contain,
and it picks them up with its tongue as they emerge. Its tongue is
wide and large. It walks upon the trees in any position, even beneath
the branches, like the gecko. It has claws stronger than those of
the colœus, which provide for its safety in climbing trees; for it
fixes them in the bark as it walks up the trees. There is one kind of
woodpecker less than the blackbird, covered with small red spots, and
another kind larger than the blackbird, and a third kind nearly as
large as the domestic hen. It builds its nest upon trees, as it has
been already observed, both on olive and other trees; and it feeds upon
ants and worms which live in trees. It hunts for worms so diligently
that they say it hollows out the trees so much as to throw them down.
A tame bird has been known to place an almond in a crack in wood, to
prepare it for the stroke of its bill, and break it with three blows,
in order to eat the kernel.