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114 Recent Ldterature. [jan 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



McAtee's ' Woodpeckers in Relation to Trees and Wood Products.' 



— In this valuable and interesting publication ^ Mr. McAtee treats ex- 

 haustively a subject upon wliich there has been much need of authentic 

 information. First is considered the damage done by Woodpeckers in 

 general, to trees, telegraph poles and buildings, in excavating for nests — 

 damage wliich can usually be prevented by furnishing artificial nest boxes 

 and wliich rarely or never calls for the destruction of the birds. Further- 

 more the benefit conferred by Woodpeckers, exclusive of the Sapsuckers, 

 in destroying insects, far more than compensates for the damage they do. 

 With the Sapsuckers however, the case is different, and the bulk of Mr. 

 McAtee's report is taken up with a discussion of the depredations of the 

 Yellow-bellied and Red-breasted Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus varius and 

 ruber) and their geographic races. The evidence presented seems fully 

 to warrant the author's conclusion, that these birds should be included in 

 the class of injurious species and destroyed whenever caught redhanded. 

 The status of WilUamson's Sapsucker (*S. thyroideus) is still in doubt 

 owing to lack of information. The various species of trees and vines 

 attacked by the Sapsuckers are listed systematically with comments on 

 the character and extent of the damage inflicted, and with numerous 

 excellent illustrations. 



In puncturing the bark to reach the sap the birds injure the cambium 

 layer, causing irregularities of growth and distortion of the grain of the 

 wood. Furthermore the punctures admit moisture, bacteria, fungi, etc., 

 which produce stains or decay, rendering the lumber valueless for ornamen- 

 tal or other special uses and sometimes causing the death of the tree. 



The annual loss resulting from the Sapsucker's attacks in the United 

 States exceeds a quarter of a million dollars. Mr. McAtee accompanies 

 his condemnation of the Sapsuckers with a word of warning to the effect 

 that " great care should be exercised to distinguish the real offenders, as 

 there are twenty species of Woodpeckers in the United States and only 

 two are under indictment." 



Two excellent colored plates by Fuertes illustrate the several species 

 of Sapsuckers, and add to the value and attractiveness of this excellent 

 bulletin.— W. S. 



Forbush on the Starling in America.^— In June, 1910, through the 

 cooperation of the Bureau of Biological Survey, U. S. Department of Agri- 



1 Woodpeckers in Relation to Trees and Wood Products. By W. L. McAtee. 

 Bulletin No. 39. Biological Survey, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Issued 

 September 26, 1911. 



s Annual Report of the State Ornithologist for the year 1910. Massachusetts 

 State Board of Agriculture. July 11, 1911. 



