170 Indian Muse tint Notes. CVol. IV. 



Hampshire, Mr. Frank Bolles found it the most abundant species. In 

 Minnesota also it is very common. On the other hand, near my 

 home in Massachusetts only two or three were observed each year ; 

 and during a residence of eight years in Iowa it was noted only three 

 or four times. 



It is to this species that the term " Sap-sucker " is most often and 

 most justly applied, for it drills holes in the bark of certain trees 

 and drinks the sap. It feeds also on cambium, insects, and wild 

 fruits and berries. 



In writing of the habits of these woodpeckers in northern New 

 York in 1878, Dr. Merriam states: — 



They really do considerable mischief by drilling holes in the bark of apple, 

 thorn-apple, and mountain ash trees in such a way as to form girdles of punctures, 

 sometimes 2 feet or more in breadth (up and down) about the trunks and branches. 

 The holes, which are sometimes merely single punctures, and sometimes squarish 

 spaces (multiple punctures) nearly half an inch across, are placed so near together 

 that not unfrequently they cover more of the tree than the remaining bark. Hence, 

 more than half of the bark is sometimes removed from the girdled portions, and 

 the balance often dries up and comes off. Therefore it is not surprising that trees 

 which have been extensively girdled generally die, and mountain ash are much 

 more prone to do so than either apple or thorn-apple trees, due, very likely, to 

 their more slender stems. The motive which induces this species to operate thus 

 upon young and healthy trees is, I think, but partly understood. It is unques- 

 tionably true that they feed, to a certain extent, both upon the inner bark and 

 the fresh sap from these trees, but that the procurement of these two elements of 

 sustenance, gratifying as they doubtless are, is their chief aim in making the 

 punctures I am inclined to dispute. As the sap exudes from the newly-made 

 punctures, thousands of flies, yellow jackets, and other insects congregate about 

 the place, till the hum of their wings suggests a swarm of bees. If, now, the tree 

 be watched, the woodpecker will soon be seen to return and alight over the part 

 of the girdle which he has most recently punctured. Here he remains, with motion- 

 less body, and feasts upon the choicest species from the host of insects within easy 

 reach. In making each girdle they work around the trunk, and from below up- 

 wards, butt hey may begin a new girdle below an old one. They make but few 

 holes each day, and after completing two or three remain over the spot for some 

 little time, and as the clear fresh sap exudes and trickles down the bark, they place 

 their bill against the dependent drop and suck it in with evident relish — a habit 

 which has doubtless given rise to the more appropriate than elegant term Sap- 

 sucker, by which they are commonly known in some parts of the country. I have 

 several times watched this performance at a distance of less than 10 feet, and all 

 the details of the process were distinctly seen, the bird looking at me, meanwhile, 

 'out of the corner of his eye.' When his thirst is satisfied he silently disappears, 

 and as silently returns again, after a few hours, to feast upon the insects that have 

 been attracted to the spot by the escaping sap. This bird, then, by a few strokes 

 of its bill, is enabled to secure both food (animal and vegetable) and drink in 

 abundance for an entire day ; and a single tree, favorably situated, may suffice 

 for a whole season.' 



,i Bull. Nuttall Ornith. Club, Vol. IV, Jany. 1879, pp. 3—5. 



