GENERAL CONCLUSION. 99 



from this cause in the United States is more than one and a quarter 

 million dollars annually. Sapsuckers do not prey upon any especially 

 destructive insects and do comparatively little to offset the damage 

 they inflict . Hence the yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 

 and its western variety (Sphyrapicus v. nuchalis), the red-breasted 

 sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) and its northern form (Sphyrapicus 

 r. notkensis) must be included in the class of injurious species, the 

 destruction of which when caught red-handed is justifiable. In cer- 

 tain States it may prove desirable to deny these birds the degree of 

 protection they now enjoy. We know too little at present to decide 

 the status of the Williamson sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ihyroideus) . 



As there are 20 species of woodpeckers in the United States and 

 only 2 of them are under indictment, great care should be exercised 

 to distinguish the real offenders. When it is necessary to destroy 

 sapsuckers, poison should be used because of the small risk to other 

 species of birds. 



