the Woodpecker, a genus of birds belonging to the order of Picce. See Ornithology Index.

fabulous history, a king of Latium, son of Saturn. He married Venilia, also called Canens, by whom he had Faunus. He was tenderly loved by the goddess Pomona, and he returned her affection. As he was one day hunting in the woods, he was met by Circe, who became deeply enamoured of him, and who changed him into a woodpecker, called by the name of picus among the Latins. His wife Venilia was so disconsolate when she was informed of his death, that she pined away. Some suppose that Picus was the son of Pilumnus, and that he gave out prophecies to his subjects by means of a favourite woodpecker; from which circumstance originated the fable of his being metamorphosed into a bird.

Picus, John Francis, prince of Mirandola, nephew of John Pica or Picus, mentioned above, was born about the year 1469. He cultivated learning and the sciences after the example of his uncle; but he had a principality and dominion to superintend, which involved him in great troubles, and at last cost him his life. He was twice driven from his principality, and twice restored; and at last, in 1533, was, together with his eldest son Albert, assassinated in his own castle by his nephew Galeotti. He was a great lover of letters; and such of his works as were then composed were inserted in the Strasbourg edition of his uncle's in 1504, and continued in future impressions, besides some others which were never collected.