452 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



which we niig-ht call the black list in point of color, anyhow, I will 

 place the entire family of blackbirds, which are so destructive to the 

 cornfield; and will include the cow bird, which, though mainly an 

 insect-eating- species, is very destructive to the increase of other 

 more beneficial birds— referring to the parasitic habit this chap has 

 of replenishing his numbers by depositing his, or rather her, eggs 

 in other birds' nests. 



The common crow would also look well on this list, and deserves 

 it. wherever numerous enough to do serious damage. I will also in- 

 clude the blue jay in this company, as he can hold his own with anj- 

 of the others in a cornfield, and is, besides, a persistant robber of 

 birdsnests. 



Passing over the families of thrushes.orioles and other fruit-eating 

 birds — which it is claimed, but not j^et fully proven, consume enough 

 insects to inore than repa}^ their indulgence — I wish to call your at- 

 tention to a species equally destructive to the fruit grower and with- 

 out any redeeming qualities. The bird referred to is the yellow-bel- 

 lied woodpecker or sap-sucker (Sph3'rapicus varius), and should not 

 be confounded with either the hairy woodpecker (D. villosus) or the 

 downy woodpecker (D. pubescens), both of which it somewhat re- 

 sembles to the casual observer. These last named species are resi- 

 dents and both highlj'- beneficial, being largely insect-eaters. 



The true sap-sucker is a migratory species, arriving froin the 

 sovith usually about the first week in April and remaining three or 

 four weeks, when the majorit}' pass on to tnore northern breeding 

 grounds, returning again late in September or early in October and 

 again regaling themselves before departing to more southern 

 climes to spend the winter. His manner of operating is to select 

 the healthiest and most thrifty tree and puncture a semicircle of 

 small holes, usually in several tiers, and feast on the inner bark and 

 exuding sap, returning to the same tree or trees several times dur- 

 ing the day. This may seem a small offence, but I can produce 

 specimens of many trees which have j'ielded to the treatment and 

 finallj'^ have died from no other cause. Manj'^ writers claim that the 

 bird does this to attract the insects upon which it feeds, but I have 

 made personal and rejieated examination of the stomachs of a large 

 number of specimens killed in the act, and always found them filled 

 with sap and bark, but never yet detected a trace of insect remains. 

 It usuall3' begins on evergreen trees, but later, when the sap has 

 started, attacks maple and other shade trees, and also apple and 

 other fruit and nut-bearing trees. The bird is very unsuspicious 

 and may be easily approached, but likes to keep on the opposite 

 side of the tree from the intruder in the manner of other woodpeck- 

 ers; but remain quiet a few minutes and he will peek around, when 

 I recotntnend the shotgun remedy. 



I had intended referring to the rose-breasted grosbeak and several 

 other species which are decidedly beneficial, but as I have doubtless 

 wearied you ere this, will defer this dose for another time. 



