A FAMILY OF BACKWOODSMEN. 



47 



table and went out again, only to find, on his return, 

 that the table was ruined by the powerful blows of the 

 bill. The bird refused to eat and at last died, brave 

 and fierce to the end. 





THE SAPSUCKER, OR YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 



This is the only one of the family that can justly be 

 called the enemy 



of the farmer, and <^ : ., 



examination has 

 proved that he 

 does, on the 

 whole, more good ^ 

 than harm. 



Figure 5 shows 

 the little pits he 

 drills, in regular 

 lines, in the bark 

 of forest trees and 

 sometimes in 

 apple trees; and 

 when the pits fill 

 ^^' i t h s a p h e 

 drinks it as if it 

 were nectar itself. 



Fig 



5. — Yellow-bellied Woodpecker. 



Harmful insects are attracted by 



