USEFUL lilRDS 165 



THE YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKER OR SAPSUCKER 



This illustration will prove helpful in enabling one to dis- 

 ting-uish between this injurious form and other woodpeckers which 

 are useful. In striking- contrast to other birds whose tongues are 

 extensile for extracting- borers from infested trees, the tongue 

 of this species has a somewhat "brushlike" tip. It cannot be pro- 

 truded to any extent, and is thus modified for an entirely dififerent 

 diet from that of other members of the same family. That it seri- 

 ously injures birches, maples, mountain ash, apple, evergreen, and 

 other trees by girdling them with holes in its seeking for sap and 

 cambium goes without saying. It may and probably does consume 

 a few insects which are attracted to the bleeding holes, but not in 

 sufficient numbers or of the right kind to compensate for the injury 

 inflicted upon the trees. The bird is about 8J2 inches long. The 

 adult male has crown and throat red. breast black, and belly a 

 shade of yellow. The female has no red on throat and the red color 

 of the crown is sometimes replaced by black. The downy wood- 



