24 THE FOOD OF WOODPECKERS. 
One hundred and one stomachs of the Redhead were examined from 
specimens collected throughout the year, although the bird is not gen- 
erally abundant in the Northern States during the winter months, 
The specimens were taken in 20 States, the District of Columbia and 
Canada, and are fairly well distributed over the whole region east. of 
the Rocky Mountains. The contents of the stomachs consisted of: 
Animal matter, 50 percent; vegetable matter, 47 percent; mineral 
matter, 38 percent. The animal and vegetable elements are nearly 
balanced, and the mineral element is larger than in any except the 
Flicker. The insects consist of ants, wasps, beetles, bugs, grasshop- 
pers, crickets, moths, and caterpillars. Spiders and myriapods also 
were found. Ants amounted to about 11 percent of the whole food, which 
is the smallest showing of any of the 7 species under consideration, 
and is in harmony with the habits of the bird, which collects its food 
upon exposed surfaces where ants do not often occur. Beetle remains 
formed nearly one-third of all food, the highest record of any one of 
the 7 woodpeckers. The families represented were those of the com- 
mon May beetle (Lechnosterna), which was found in several stomachs, 
the predaceous ground beetles, tiger beetles, weevils, and a few others. 
Among the May beetle family is a rather large, brilliant green beetle, 
known to entomologists as Allorhina nitida, but commonly called by 
the less dignified name of ‘June bug.’ It is very common during the 
early summer in the Middle and Southern States, but less so at the 
North. This insect was found in 11 stomachs, and 5 individuals were 
identified in a single stomach, which would seem an enormous meal for 
a bird of this size. Another large beetle eaten by this woodpecker is 
the fire-ground beetle (Calosoma calidum), a predaceous beetle of large 
size and vile odor. Passalus cornutus, one of the staghorns, a large 
insect, was also found, as well as a pair of mandibles belonging to 
Prionus brevicornus, one of the largest beetles in the United States. A 
preference for large beetles is one of the pronounced characteristics of 
this woodpecker. Weevils were found in 15 stomachs, and in several 
cases aS many as 10 were present. Remains of Carabid beetles were 
found in 44 stomachs to an average amount of 24 percent of the con- 
tents of those that contained them, or 10 percent of all. The fact that 
43 percent of all the birds taken had eaten these beetles, some of them 
to the extent of 16 individuals, shows a decided fondness for these 
insects, and taken with the fact that 5 stomachs contained Cicindelids 
or tiger beetles forms a rather strong indictment against the bird. 
Grasshoppers and crickets formed 6 percent of the whole food, a 
larger percentage than in any of the other 7 Species. The aggregate 
for all other insects is 4 percent, and the most important kinds are 
wasps and their allies. As this bird has often been seen capturing 
insects on the wing! it is probable that the wasps were taken in that 
way. 
'See Merriam, Bull. Nuttall Ornith. Club, Vol. IIT, July, 1878, p. 126; also Forest 
and Stream, Vol. IX, January 17, 187%, p. 451. 
