of 



are known to prey upon the oak, and a complete 

 count may show a thousand kinds. Many of 

 these insects multiply with amazing rapidity, 

 and at all times countless numbers of these ag- 

 gressive pests form warrior armies with which 

 the woodpecker must constantly contend. 



In this incessant struggle with insects the 

 woodpecker has helpful assistance from many 

 other bird families. Though the woodpecker 

 gives general attention to hundreds of kinds of 

 insects, he specializes on those which injure the 

 tree internally, which require a surgical oper- 

 ation to obtain. He is a distinguished specialist; 

 the instruments for tree-surgery are intrusted to 

 his keeping, and with these he each year per- 

 forms innumerable successful surgical opera- 

 tions upon our friends the trees. 



Woodpeckers are as widely distributed as for- 

 ests, just how many to the square mile no 

 one knows. Some localities are blessed with a 

 goodly number, made up of representatives 

 from three or four of our twenty-four wood- 

 pecker species. Forest, shade, and orchard trees 

 receive their impartial attention. The annual 



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