22 



The Bulletin. 



from some post of observation and capture passing insects on the 

 wing, as do the Kingbird and Pewee. In considering the economic 

 value of a bird as a destroyer of insects there must be borne in mind 

 the fact that not all insects are injurious to man's interests and some 

 are of real value. The Red-head is known to kill certain beneficial 

 forms, such as tiger beetles and various predaceous ground species. 

 It has also been accused of killing the young of other birds, although 

 there appears to be little data on which to found an opinion that this 

 habit is widespread or universal. Its vegetable food is varied, con- 



Red-headed Woodpecker. 



(After Beal, Farmers' Bulletin No. 54, Office of Experiment Stations, U. S. Department 



of Agriculture.) 



sisting mainly of fruit, berries, and beech-nuts. The writer has 

 often seen it feeding upon acorns of various kinds, and there is a 

 pretty common belief that at times it stores acorns for winter use 

 in convenient crevices of trees or posts. 



