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Bird - Lore 



possessed only by human beings. The actions of birds are wonderful when we stop to 

 interpret them, but it is not necessary to imagine explanations. 



With reference to the injury done by Sapsuckers, see Dr. Fisher's article, and the 

 references given with it in Bird-Lore Vol. XVII, No. 2, p. 149. 



Alexander Wilson observed of the Sapsucker that " it visits our orchards in the month 

 of October in great numbers, is occasionally seen during the whole winter and spring, 

 but seems to seek the depth of the forest to rear its young in; for during summer it is 



"CAUGHT IN THE ACT" 

 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker feeding on sap of mountain oak. Photographed from nature by Dr. Thos. S. 

 Roberts, at Minneapolis, Minn., June 20, igoi 



rarely seen among our settlements, and even in the intermediate woods I have seldom 

 met with it at that season." 



In 'The Birds of Maine,' Knight says of the Sapsuckers: "In the nesting-season, 

 they prefer mixed or hardwood growth along a river, pond, stream or lake, or preferably 

 in a swampy tract of land which is subject to spring overflow, and near the shore of a 

 pond or river." He also adds this interesting observation: "The nest can often be 

 located by noting the sawdust and chips under the tree, which they usually let fall directly 

 from the hole, instead of carrying it away as many other species do." The writer has 

 seen a Flicker's hole near which the chips were left for a time at least. Possibly individual 

 birds vary somewhat in their habits with reference to nest-building. 



Some writers lay emphasis on the fact that the Sapsucker's tongue is shorter and 

 less fitted for extracting deeply boring insects than that of nearly related Woodpeckers 



