18 WOODPECKERS 



through fruit wholly consumed; and if these birds were as 

 numerous as sparrows, it would be necessary for fruit-growers 

 to take precautions against them during the fruit season. 

 The damage done to corn appears to be quite insignificant. 

 (Professor F. E. L. Beal's report.) 



The great fondness of the Red-Head for beechnuts, and 

 its habits of storing them up for winter use, in holes and 

 crevices, are well known. 



The Ant-Eating Woodpecker 1 of the Pacific slope is 

 the most conspicuous and interesting bird of this Order in 

 that region, either around the suburban home, on the ranch or 

 in the mountain forests. This is the species which is now 

 celebrated in word and picture for its habit of digging hun- 

 dreds of holes in soft bark or dead tree-trunks, and "storing" 

 an acorn in each hole, for future food. 



The Downy AYoodpecker 2 is a small gray-and-black 

 species, modest and quiet in demeanor, but quite as common 

 about the haunts of man as the golden-wing. It is the small- 

 est species found in the United States and is the one which 

 is most in evidence in winter. 



This bird ranks high as a destroyer of insects, and in the 

 percentage of insect food consumed leads all other wood- 

 peckers that have been studied by the Biological Survey of 

 the Department of Agriculture. An examination of 140 

 stomachs revealed 74 per cent of insect food and 25 of vege- 

 table. The vegetable food consisted chiefly of seeds of the 

 poison ivy, poison sumac, mullen, pokeberries, dogwood and 



1 Mel-an-er'pes for-mi-civ'o-rus. 



2 Pi'cus pu-bcA-'ccna mc-di-an'us. Length, 7 inches. 



