1883.] Zoölogy. 673 
pillars other than canker-worms as usual, simply adding their 
nker-worm ratios to those of other caterpillars, goes to show 
that these insects are favorites with a majority of birds. 
THe Harry WOODPECKER, A CORRECTION.— Referring to the 
interesting communication of A. G. Van Aken (Am. Nart., May, 
1883, p. 515) upon the hairy woodpecker, there is apparently the 
often repeated mistake made of confounding the work of the hairy 
and -the yellow-bellied woodpeckers. Our author says: “ The 
perforations which he makes are merely for the purpose of secur- 
ing his quarry from their ensconsure neath the bark out of the 
reach of other agencies.” 
Now, if the circular holes arranged in horizontal lines in the 
bark of fruitand other trees are referred to, there are two remarks to 
made: Ist. These holes are not made by the hairy woodpecker 
at all. 2d. They are made by the yellow-bellied woodpecker 
(Sphyrapicus varius), not for the purpose primarily of obtaining 
insects, but forthe inner bark and sap. This correction has often 
been made, but that there is further need of it is evidenced in 
many ways besides the particular statement referred to. e 
two birds and their work are all but universally confounded by 
the farmers and fruit growers of my acquaintance. The one is, 
however, decidedly useful; the other, though insect-feeding in 
part, does to the orchards and ornamental trees far more injury 
than good. Among these trees the one should be carefully pro- 
ora the other shot—7. % Burrill, Champaign, Ill, April 23, 
1883. 
_ ZOOLOGICAL NoTEs.—Protozoa.—Mereschkowski finds in an 
infusorian named by Cohn Acarella siro, a link between the Ciliate 
and Suctorial infusoria. The Acinetines present cilia in some 
: of their development, but otherwise the groups have 
hitherto been regarded as quite separate. Acarella siro, which 
abounds in the Bay of Naples, has a somewhat pyriform body, 
ending in front in a small conical neck, at the base of which is a 
collar of long cilia in three superposed circles of seven or eight 
each. Upon the margin of the orifice of the neck four suckers 
are always present, constructed, like those of the Acinetina, of a 
slender peduncle, ending in a globular enlargement. It creeps 
slowly at times, at others, moves by sudden leaps, in both cases 
by the action of its cilia. H. J. Waddington publishes in the Jour- 
nal of Royal Microscopical Society the results of some experiments - 
on the action of tannin on the cilia of Infusoria, especially Parame- 
cium aurelia, the immediate action of the tannic acid rendering the 
Cilia visible without any manipulation of the light. Also by the 
use of sulphurous acid Infusoria are at once killed, and in most 
, if the Infusoria are ciliate, the cilia are rendered visible ; 
but if the Infusoria are only partially killed, they become 
