THE HUMMING-BIRDS OF CUOCORUA. 273 



which bordered the southwest Margaree at the 

 point where that swift stream emerges from Loeh 

 Ainslie. More than a dozen alder trunks had 

 been girdled with drills and a rich orchard 

 seemed to be in use. I had not long to wait at 

 the spot, but in the fifteen minutes which I could 

 spare no humming-birds came to reward my 

 silent watching. 



In some parts of the country sapsuckers are 

 roughly treated on account of their destruction 

 of trees. It is unquestionably true that each 

 family of birds kills one or more vigorous trees 

 each year, but generally the trees are small and 

 of trifling value as timber. My sapsuckers are 

 welcome to several forest trees a year, so long as 

 they continue to attract and feed humming-birds, 

 and indirectly to draw thousands of insects within 

 easy reach of their own bills and the more 

 active mandibles of flycatchers, warblers, and 

 vireos. 



