INSECTS AFFECTIXC; PARK AND WOOULAN U TKEE.^ 



29 



and inspected ,i<T^''f^'yr-t^ 



Most of these -^jWr^ 

 r high branches — ^||-"H:.;,v^V '■|# 



Red-headed woodpecker M e 1 a n e r p e s (• r \- 1 h r o c e p h a 1 u s 



Fhcker - - - - - C o 1 a p t e s a u r ;i t u s 1 u t e vi s 



Pileated woodpecker - - C e o p h 1 o e us p i 1 e a t vi s a 1) i e t o r 11 m 



The activity and efficiency of some of our native woodjjcckers is strik- 



inidy shown hv the following notes published by Mr K. H. I'orl)ush.' 1 le 



states that his friend, Mr C. E. Bailey observed a downy woodjxTker Mar. 



28, 1899, make 26 excavations for food between 9.411 a. m., and 12.15 \). m. 



The bird during this time climbed over and insi)ected 



in a greater or less degree 181 trees 



excavations exposed galleries in trunks or -,,, . . ., , 



In which ants were hibernating, and examination of the ?f 'i'*.f, *' p.|^ 



stomach of this bird disclosed one spider, one unidenti- 

 fied beetle, two scolytid larvae, 22 ants, and a mass of 



partly digested material which could not be identified. 



Mr Forbush continues the record and states that anoth(-r 



downy woodpecker was observed Mar. 31 taking larva 



and beetles from beneath the bark of oak trees. He 



adds that the birds seem to know the exact spot to drill 



for each larva as it always cuts a small hole directly 



over the insect and invariably finds the prey. 1 he 



splintered, bare piece of plum shown in figure i, only 



a portion of several limbs, yards in length, also illus- 

 trates well the industry of these birds. 



Mr E. H. Forbush, ' in connection with various assistants, has given 



considerable attention in recent years to the economic value of a number of 

 our native birds, and has prepared a brief summar)- of the relative value of 

 certain families. His estimates are so valuable that they ar(> givcMi hen- in 

 the hopes that more may be led to recognize the importance of these forms 

 as checks on injurious insects, particularly in forests. The work had special 

 reference to the value of birds as checks on the gipsy moth and other hairy 

 caterpillars. His summary is practically as f ollows : 



' 1900 Mass. Crop Rep't. July. p. 3^- 

 "1899 Mass. Crop Rep't. -Sep. p. 34-36- 



I Work of woodpeckers 

 plumtree i„feste<l by fruit 

 ■ bark beetle 



