168 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Of all our woodpeckers the sapsucker is the one exception to the 

 rule. This species eats many insects, but its fondness for the sap 

 of trees, including apple and other orchard trees, with its habit of 

 cutting out sections of the bark to obtain its favorite tipple, renders 

 it a nuisance in some localities. It is one of a number of birds that 

 are harmful and beneficial by turns or according to locality. Little 

 blame attaches to the orchardist who blacklists the sapsucker; but 

 he should familiarize himself with the appearance of his enemy, 

 that he may distinguish him from other kinds, so that his extreme 

 measure of retaliation may not fall upon innocent species which can 

 ill be spared. 



WOOD WARBLERS. America is peculiarly fortunate in possessing 

 this beautiful group, in some respects unlike the birds of any other 

 land, and excelled by none in grace of form, sprightly motions, and 

 beauty of plumage. The family is large and numbers of the species 

 included in it visit every part of our domain at some season or 

 other. While some live on or near the ground and share with the 

 thrushes the task of hunting for ground- frequenting insects, the great 

 majority haunt the trees and shrubbery, and spend their time glean- 

 ing an insect harvest from foliage and twigs. Eggs, larva?, and 

 adult insects alike are welcome, and when flying insects are dislodged 

 from their hiding places the warblers successfully essay the role of 

 flycatchers and snap them up on the wing. No insects are too minute 

 to escape their prying eyes, and they are particularly successful in 

 discovering and devouring plant lice, immense numbers of which 

 infest our fruit and shade trees. Finally, it may be said of the war- 

 blers that they are truly insectivorous, as they eat very little vege- 

 table food, and the little they do eat has no special economic value. 

 (See PL VI.) 



THRUSHES. The thrushes and their near allies, the bluebirds, are 

 two groups of insectivorous birds, all the members of which are fond 

 of fruit. All sorts of wild berries are highly esteemed by them, and 

 no one will deny that they are quite within their rights in appro- 

 priating them. Unfortunately, however, the most prominent mem- 

 ber of the group and in some respects the most highly esteemed 

 has developed an uncontrollable appetite for cherries, strawberries, 

 and other cultivated fruits which often renders him a nuisance to the 

 grower of small fruits. The fruit grower can hardly be expected to 

 accept the confiding habits and the sweet song of the robin as full 

 payment for a crop of cherries upon which depends a considerable 

 part of his own livelihood and that of his family. In connection 

 with the depredations of the robin, it is confidently believed that 

 mulberry, wild cherry,' and other fruit-bearing trees of little or no 

 commercial value can be planted near orchards so as to protect the 



