BIRDS. 139 



With such facts in view regarding the usefulness 

 of birds in keeping down the numbers ot injurious 

 insects, the farmer, the gardener, and the fruit 

 grower should combine their efforts for the pro- 

 tection of these valuable little friends. 



INDIVIDUAL BIRDS. THE WOODPECKER. 



There are several species of this bird in the 

 United States. As the name implies, it lives where 

 wood is found. Now, trees furnish homes for many 

 kinds of animals, especially insects, which feed 

 upon the leaves and wood. Grubs, caterpillars, 

 and ants eat into and destroy the trunks and 

 branches of trees. Woodpeckers are better fitted 

 than any other birds for capturing these insects. 



Until recently, before its true office was known, 

 the woodpecker (see p. 132), was held in contempt 

 by most people. They looked upon it as a worth- 

 less creature, going about amusing itself by pecking 

 needless holes in trees, or drumming upon the 

 boards of buildings. 



But those looking carefully into the matter have 

 found that such holes have been the salvation of 

 the trees in which they were pecked. Out of each 

 hole drilled by the bird a pernicious insect was 

 extracted and eaten. In many cases, of course, the 

 trees died, not because of the holes made by the 

 birds, but because the insects were so numerous. 

 The inside of such trees, when they are cut down 

 and split open, is found to be tunneled, or "honey- 



