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 jSTortheru States during the winter moutbs. 

 Tbe specimens were taken in 20 States, the District of Columbia and 

 Canada, and are fairly well distributed over the whole region east of 

 the Eocky Mountains. The contents of the stomachs consisted of: 

 Animal matter, 50 percent; vegetable matter, 47 percent; mineral 

 matter, 3 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 1 1 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 

 tbe 7 woodi)eckers. The families represented were those of the com- 

 mon INIay beetle {LacJnwsterna), which was found in several stomachs, 

 tbe predaceous ground beetles, tiger beetles, weevils, and a few others. 

 Among tbe May beetle family is a rather large, brilliant green beetle, 

 known to entomologists as Allorhina nitida, but commonly c.illed by 

 the less dignified name of ' Jnne bng.' It is very common during tbe 

 early summer in tlie Middle and Southern States, but less so at the 

 North. This insect was found in 11 stomachs, and o individuals were 

 identified in a single stomach, wbich would seem an enormous meal for 

 a bird of tbis size. Anotber large beetle eaten by tbis woodpecker is 

 the tire-ground beetle (Calosohm caliditm), a predaceous beetle of large 

 size and vile odor, l^ossalus corHKtua, one of tbe staghorns, a large 

 insect, was also found, as well as a ])air of mandibles belonging to 

 Prionus hrericonius, one of the largest beetles in the United States. A 

 preference for large beetles is one of the pronounced cbaracteristics of 

 this woodpecker. Weevils were found in 15 stomacbs, and in several 

 cases as many as 10 were present, liemains of Carabid beetles were 

 found in 44 stomachs to an average amount of 24 jiercent of tbe con- 

 tents of those tbat contained tbem, or 10 percent of all. Tbe fact tbat 

 43 i)ercent of all tbe birds taken bad eaten tbese beetles, some of tbem 

 to the extent of 1<> individuiils, shows a decided fondness for these 

 insects, and taken with tbe fact that 5 stomachs contained Ci(;indelid8 

 or tiger beetles forms a ratber strong indictment against tbe bird. 



Grasshoppers and crickets formed i)ereent ot tbe wbole food, a 

 larger percentage than in any of tbe other 7 species. Tbe aggregate 

 for all other insects is 4 percent, and tbe most important kinds are 

 wasps and their allies. As tbis biid has often been seen capturing 

 insects on the wing' it is probable that the wasps were taken in that 

 way. 



' See Merriam, Bull. Nnttall Ornith. Cliil). Vol. III. .Inly, 1S7S. p. 12«i: al^o Forest 

 and Stream, Vol. IX, .lauuary 17, 187S, p. 151. 



