20 



obtaining the sap as it flows from them, and also to attract the insects upon which 

 they feed to the same spot, so that they can satisfy their hunger and thirst with- 

 out having to over-exert themselves in so doing. If life was not so short I 

 might be tempted here to go into the question as to whether this bird had to 

 acquire this habit because its tongue was peculiarly fitted for it, or whether the 

 tongue became modified so as to just suit the habit after the bird had acquired 

 it ; for the bird's tongue certainly differs from that of other Canadian Wood- 

 peckers and is admirably fitted for the use to which it is put. A discussion of 

 the question would exceed the scope of this article, and probably not lead to 

 anything after all. We know the bird has this habit and the question is, what 

 is the effect of it upon the trees which are bored ? I have made what obser- 

 vations I could, and as many enquiries from others as possible, and have come 

 to the conclusion that the only real damage done is that a young tree may be 

 tendered unsightly for a time, or it may even be permanently disfigured by some 

 peculiarity in the healing of the bark, but usually no harm ensues. That a tree 

 ever was or could be killed by it I do not believe, for I have never yet seen or 

 heard any evidence in proof of it. 



Apart from its sap drinking peculiarity the bird's record is excellent ; it is 

 not a fruit or grain eater, but devotes itself to the destruction of insects that 

 live on the trees or hide in the loose bark. Ants form a large proportion of its 

 food. These it obtains from the rotten wood in which they burrow, as it does 

 not descend to the ground in search of them. Beetles and moths are also sought 

 out and devoured, but as this bird's tongue is not as well barbed as that of some 

 of the other Woodpeckers, fewer grubs of the wood-boring class are eaten by it. 

 I suppose if any man believes that these birds are doing an injury to his trees 

 he should be allowed to protect himself in the only way possible, viz., by getting 

 rid of the birds on his own premises; but for his own sake he should be sure he gets 

 rid of the right one, and that neither the Downy nor the Hairy is destroyed by 

 mistake. Both the Downy and the Hairy Woodpecker remain with us all through 

 the year, whilst the Sapsucker is a summer resident only; so that whenever a Wood- 

 pecker is seen in the winter it should be spared, for it is most certainly a bene- 

 ficial one. 



Nuthatches, Chickadee and Tree Creeper. Of these we have two species of 

 Nuthatches, the White-breasted and Red-breasted, one Chickadee and one 

 Creeper. They are all resident species, though more frequently seen about culti- 

 vated lands in the winter than in any other season. They are among the most 

 active insect destroyers we have, gleaning their food from the bark, branches 

 and leaves of trees, and seldom descending to the ground, though when wood- 

 chopping is going on in the bush the logs, sticks and chips will all be carefully 

 searched for grubs which have been exposed by the axe. The familiarity dis- 

 played by these little creatures at this time is very pleasing. As soon as work 

 begins and the first few strokes of the axe sound through the bush, they gather 

 round and investigate every piece of bark and decayed wood thrown open, and 

 from each one gather some prizes. It is very amusing to watch the little Chickadee 

 when he finds a large grub of one of the borers partly exposed. He pulls and 

 tugs at it until it comes out, and then securely holding it down with his feet he 

 tears it in pieces and devours it. Without the assistance of the chopper it is 

 but seldom that they can get at the larger grubs that bore deeply into the solid 

 wood, as they have neither the strength nor proper tools for digging them out ; 

 but th^y have found out that when the farmer gets out his cordwood their oppor- 

 tunity for a feast arrives, and so they take advantage of it. As a general rule, 

 however, they scour the bush, orchard and shrubbery in merry little parties 

 searching for food, from time to time uttering their musical notes, which always 



