254 



U8EPUL BIRDS. 



the larvae of boring beetles from beneath the bark of oak trees. 

 The bird seemed to know the exact spot at which to drill for 

 each larva, for it always cut a small hole directly over the 

 insect. The cut (Fig. Ill) gives a view of the outer surface 

 of a section of bark taken from a small oak. From this small 



piece of bark the 

 bird probably se- 

 cured at least six 

 of the larvse that 

 were found in its 

 stomach. The 

 holes at a, b, c, 

 d, e, f, indicate 

 those from which 

 the larvse were 

 taken. Fig. 112 

 gives a view of 

 the inner surface 

 of the same piece 

 f-.-MitJ^'liMli"""" of bark, showing 

 how true was the 

 stroke of the 

 bird, for its beak, 

 piercing from the 

 outside, went di- 

 rectly to the cen- 

 ter of the burrow 

 where the dormant insects lay, entirely hidden from view. 

 The letters a, b, c, d, e, f, indicate the holes where the 

 bird's beak came through to the inner surface. Twelve 

 ants and seventeen larvse of boring beetles were found in 

 its stomach. 



The Downy Woodpecker is one of the most useful of all 

 birds to the lumberman, for it feeds on such destructive 

 insects as the bronze birch borer, the maple borer, and the 

 pine weevil, — an insect of such importance that its habits 

 merit some description here. This little insect (Pissodes 

 strobi) deposits its eggs on the topmost shoots of the finest 

 and most vigorous young white pines, and the young larvae 



Pig. 111. 



Pig. 112. 



