DOWNY WOODPECKER 137 



our orchards and forests of innumerable injurious 

 larvae, like those of the boring beetles. It never 

 attacks a sound tree. Although commonly known 

 as Sapsucker, this name is very inappropriate ; 

 it is not in search of sap, but of such grubs as are 

 only found in decaying wood ; nevertheless . . . 

 many are shot under the erroneous belief that 

 they injure the very trees they are doing their 

 best to protect. In central New York, and 

 undoubtedly in other sections as well, where a 

 few decades ago one could see some of the finest 

 apple orchards to be found anywhere, you may 

 look in vain for them now. Nearly every tree of 

 any size now shows abundant and unmistakable 

 signs of decay, caused by the increase of the in- 

 sects which live in them and the decrease of 

 such birds as destroy these pests. In Oneida 

 and Herkimer counties, New York, the top of 

 nearly every black ash tree is dead, and the trees 

 are slowly decaying, undoubtedly due to some 

 species of boring beetle." 



Downy Woodpecker: Dryobates pubescens and allies. 



Adult male, upper parts black, spotted and striped with white ; 

 under parts white ; a scarlet band on the nape. Adult fe- 

 male, similar, but without the scarlet patch. Young, with 

 crown red. Length, about 6| inches. 



GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION. North America, from Labrador 

 and Alaska to Florida and California ; resident throughout 

 their ranges. 



The gentle little Downy Woodpecker is a bird 



