18 THE FOOD OF WOODPECKEES. 



ants, although the other insects found in the stomachs account in 

 part for this ground-feeding habit. Prof. Samuel Aughey examined 8 

 stomachs of Flickers in Dixon County, Nebr., in June, 1865. All of 

 them contained grasshoppers, and the number in each stomach varied 

 from 15 to 48. 



As a large part of the food of the 7 woodpeckers studied consists 

 of ants, the question may be asked whether the birds are doing good 

 or harm by destroying them. There are so many different species of 

 these insects, and they have such widely different habits, that it is 

 difficult to make any assertion that will apply to all, but it is safe to 

 say that many kinds are decidedly harmful, because they attend, pro- 

 tect, and help to spread plant, root, and bark lice of various species. 

 These lice are among the worst enemies of plant life, and everything 

 which tends to prevent their destruction is prejudicial to the interests 

 of agriculture. Other species of ants destroy timber by burrowing in 

 it; still others, in warmer climates, do much harm to fruit trees by 

 cutting off the leaves and undermining the ground. Many species 

 infest houses and other buildings. Apparently, then, birds do no harm 

 in destroying ants, but on the contrary probably do much good by keep- 

 ing within bounds these insect pests, whose greater abundance would 

 be a serious injury to man. The Flicker takes the lead in this work, 

 eating ants to the extent of nearly half of his whole food. 



Next in importance to ants are beetles, which form about 10 percent 

 of all the food, less than half the quantity eaten by the Hairy and 

 Downy Woodpeckers. Among these were May beetles and their allies, 

 and a few snapping beetles, but the greater number were Carabids or 

 predaceous ground beetles. Most of these were in the adult form, but 

 some larvoe of tiger beetles were identified. As these last live in bur- 

 rows in the sand, and as Carabids live upon the ground, their presence 

 in the stomachs again points to the terrestrial habits of the bird. The 

 same is true of the grasshoppers and crickets. None of the other insects 

 mentioned were eaten to any great extent, the whole aggregating only 

 about 3 percent. Two stomachs contained each a single bedbug. 

 Where they were obtained it is as difficult to surmise as it is to under- 

 stand what motive could prompt the bird to swallow such an insect. 

 Five stomachs contained each a few bits of snail shell. 



In the matter of vegetable diet the Flicker has the most extensive 

 list of any of the 7 woodpeckers, and many of the articles of food 

 can only be obtained on the ground or among low bushes. Following 

 is a list of all the vegetable substances identified in the Flicker's 

 stomach : 



