THE FOOD HABITS OF NEBRASKA BIRDS. 235 



(sixty-eight per cent) and vegetable matter a little more (thirty- 

 one per cent), while mineral matter remains the same (one per 

 cent). Beetles (twenty-four per cent) are most eaten, caterpil- 

 lars (twenty-one per cent) next, ants (seventeen per cent) being 

 third in importance, just the reverse of the last two being -true 

 with the Downy. Spiders amount to four per cent, plant lice 

 to two per cent. Grasshoppers are but slightly eaten. The 

 vegetable food is of about the same character as that eaten by 

 the Downy, including additionally spice berries, sourgum ber- 

 ries, wild black cherries, choke cherries, wild grapes, blackber- 

 ries and raspberries. Fruit altogether constitutes eleven per 

 cent of the food and is all wild. Weed seed are often consider- 

 ably eaten here in the west. 



The Red-headed Woodpecker was discussed in detail in the 

 1903 report. Its relative the Red-bellied Wood-pecker ( Centurus 

 carolinus) is found in fair numbers in the heavier timber of eastern 

 Nebraska, but it is so retiring that it plays but little part in the 

 insect destruction among our orchards. It is not very fond of in- 

 sects, which amount to only twenty-six per cent of its food; among 

 them ants (eleven per cent) are most eaten, while beetles (ten 

 per cent) are next preferred, especially the adults, which form 

 seven per cent against three per cent of larvae. Caterpillars 

 (four per cent) are sometimes eaten greedily. True bugs, 

 crickets and spiders are eaten sparingly. The seventy-four 

 per cent of vegetable matter is almost entirely wild fruit and 

 seeds, including mulberries, elderberries, wild grapes, Virginia 

 creeper berries, pine, poison ivy and ragweed seeds. Corn is 

 occasionally eaten to a slight extent. The species thus does no 

 harm and is fairly beneficial. 



THE FLICKERS. 



Our two Flickers, the Yellow-shafted iColaptes auratus luteus) 

 and Red-shafted (Colajjtes cafer collaris) are both present over 

 the entire state, the former more abundant eastwardly the 

 latter more so westwardly. Both of tlTese birds are well 

 known, and need no description here, especially as they 

 may be readily recognized from the accompanying illus- 

 tration. Their food habits are practically identical and will be 

 treated together. Animal matter amounts to fifty-six per cent, 



