-1883.] Editors’ Table. 515 
ence, being a peculiarly wretched example of the inequality of the 
distribution of happiness,’ and many writers of more recent date, 
despite the eloquent refutation of the calumny by our greatest or- 
nithologist, Alexander Wilson, seem to be imbued with a like 
spirit. But what is the true state of the case as vouched for in the 
testimony of every true working, field ornithologist ? 
A beneficent Providence has richly endowed the family of 
woodpeckers with qualities of rare excellence and worth. Espe- 
cially is this true of the hairy. The principal count in the indict- 
ment against him, that he bores the bark of fruit and other trees 
in order to feed upon the sap and inner bark, will not stand, being 
utterly false. An extended examination of the contents of the 
stomach of this bird invariably fails to disclose an appreciable 
amount of either, but in their stead a huge mass of insects and 
larve. The perforations which he makes are merely for the pur- 
pose of securing his quarry from their ensconsure neath the bark 
out of the reach of other agencies. His is a work of destruction 
and death—the dislodgment and consuming of myriads of borers, 
&c.—not harm to the tree, but beneficial, as attested in innumera- 
ble instances. In this despised, persecuted bird, we have a true 
friend and effective co-worker, very materially assisting us in gather- 
ing an ample return of perfect fruit for the labor and care expended 
to this end in orchard, vineyard or garden. Ignorance and pre- 
Judice have no place amid the general intelligence and humane 
Principles of to-day and should not be tolerated. Let no one, 
then, wantonly destroy either eggs or parent bird, but carefully 
foster and protect them, even using his influence to secure the 
Punishment of all thus rendering themselves amenable to law and 
the just condemnation of every intelligent person. 
penn. 
EDITORS’ TASLE. 
EDITORS: A. S. PACKARD, JR., AND E. D. COPE. 
~— The Government of the United States is displaying a lib- 
srality towards scientific research which is worthy of high praise. 
eh © Position assumed by our legislators on this subject is in ac- 
Sordance with the spirit of the age, and represents the intellectual 
: Status of the American people among the civilized nations. The 
“PPropriations made by Congress for the development and exposi- 
Our resources have kept pace in amount with the increase 
36 
VoL, xvn, —No 
