INSECTS AFKliCTING I'AKK ANU UOOULANU TKF.F.S 



\\(H)il[)(.'ckcr 



29 



Rcd-hcai-ktl \v(H)ili)(.'ckcr i\I c 1 a n t: r p e s e r y t h r o c l- ]) h a 1 u s 



Flicker - - - - - C o 1 a p 1 1- s a u r a t u s 1 u t e u s 

 Pileated woodpecker - - C (■ o p li 1 o e us p i 1 (■ a t u s a 1) i c t o r u m 



The acti\it\' and ctficienc)" of some of our nalixc woodpeckers is strik- 

 ingly shown 1)\- the follow inu notes published by Mr H. H. l'"orl)ush.' Me 

 states that his friend, Mr C. \'.. Hailey observed a downy woodpecker Mar. 

 28, 1899, make 26 excavations for food between 9.40 a. m., and 12,15 p. m. 

 The bird durin^- this time climbed o\'er and inspected 

 in a greater or less degree 181 trees. Most of these 

 excavations exposed galleries in trunks or high branches 

 in which ants were hibernating, and examination of the 

 stomach of this bird disclosed one spider, one unidenti- 

 fied beetle, two scolytid larvae, 22 ants, and a mass of 

 partly digested material which could not be identified. 

 Mr Forbush continues the record and states that another 

 downy woodpecker wa-s observed Mar. 31 taking larva 

 and beetles from beneath the bark of oak trees. He 

 adds that the birds seem to know the exact spot to drill 

 for each larva as it always cuts a small hole directly 

 over the insect and invariabl)- finds the prey. The 

 splintered, bare piece of plum shown in figure i, only fic 

 a portion of several limbs, yards in length, also illus- m 

 trates well the industry of these birds. 



Mr E. H. Forbush,-' in connection with various assistants, has given 

 considerable attention in recent j'ears to the economic value of a number of 

 our native birds, and has prepared a brief summary of the relative value of 

 certain families. His estimates are so valuable that they are given here in 

 the hopes that more may be led to recognize the importance of these forms 

 as checks on injurious insects, particularly in forests. The work had special 

 reference to the value of birds as checks on the gipsy moth and other hairy 

 caterpillars. His summary is practically as follows : 



' 1900 Mass. Crop Rep't. July. p. 31. 

 '1899 Mass. Crop Rep't. Sep. p. 34-36. 



Work of woodpeckers 

 jhinilree infested by fruit 

 bark beetle 



