62 BULLETIN 326, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The only evil that can be attributed to it is not appreciable when compared 

 with the services rendered : a few beneficial insects are destroyed and one bird 

 had robbed a blackbird's nest, an occurrence believed to be exceptional. As a 

 whole, the bird is a valuable aid to the landowner and should be carefully 

 protected. 



PORTO RICAN "WOODPECKER. Melanerpes portoricensis (Daudin). 

 Carpintero. 



The woodpecker is common in Porto Rico and on Vieques Island wherever 

 there are trees large enough to afford it shelter. At present it is rather rare in 

 the coastal region, as the forests have been cleared for many years. In habits 

 and notes it strongly resembles the red-headed woodpecker of the United States, 

 and has many of the habits of that bird. The flight is strong and undulating, 

 as with other woodpeckers, and, while the birds are not wild, they are not easy 

 to approach if they suspect they are being followed. This is one of the few 

 species common in coffee plantations. The woodpecker finds a congenial home 

 in the trees shading the coffee, and searches their trunks constantly for insects. 

 Occasionally in the early morning, from January until May, they were heard 

 drumming a rapid tattoo on a dead limb. 



The birds were seen excavating nesting holes in February, and apparently 

 deposited eggs from April 20 to May 1. At Yauco one nest was still empty 

 May 17. By May 29 a few young were seen on the w T ing near Maricao, and 

 from then on they were common. Adults were very vociferous and anxious 

 about the young and fed them for about two weeks after leaving the nests. 

 These birds apparently remain mated throughout the year. Woodpeckers were 

 often seen in early morning sunning themselves on dead stubs, as the red-heads 

 do, but, seemingly indifferent to the passing insects, they made no attempt to 

 catch them. 



Food. — In 59 stomachs of this woodpecker animal matter amounts to 65.83 

 per cent and vegetable to 34.17 per cent. Wood-boring larvse, ants, and earwigs 

 form a large share of the animal matter eaten, and small wild fruits, with a 

 certain proportion of rubbish, make up the vegetable food. The material exam- 

 ined represented the food of all the months from January to August. 



Animal food. — Earwigs (Forficulidse) (8.55 per cent) were found in 40 

 stomachs, usually only the oddly formed tail forceps surviving the process 

 of digestion. Only one species (Phaulex albipes) was identified and it is ap- 

 parently common on the island. Not much is at present known regarding the 

 status of these insects, but it is possible that some of the larger tropical forms 

 may be of economic importance. Orthopteran remains (1.03 per cent) were 

 found in three stomachs only. One cricket was eaten. Larvae of wood borers 

 mainly of longicorn beetles were found in 32 stomachs and, with adult longi- 

 corns in 3 others, form 24.68 per cent. This woodpecker, frequenting the coffee 

 plantations, thus aids in ridding the shade trees, so essential to good crops of 

 coffee, of their pests. By means of its strong bill and long tongue it can uncover 

 and drag out these destructive larvse, protected from other birds beneath the 

 bark. Weevil remains in 13 stomachs amount to 1.47 per cent and other Coleop- 

 tera figure as 3.99 per cent. Darkling beetles were found commonly, as many 

 of them live underneath bark. All were difficult of identification, as hard in- 

 sects are thoroughly broken up before being swallowed. Among the Hemiptera, 

 eaten by seven birds (4.16 per cent), were two stinkbugs (Pentatomidse) and 

 two cicadas (Proarno hilaris). 



Next to the wood-boring larvse, ants (10.37 per cent) form the largest single 

 item, being found in 42 stomachs, in several forming a large part of the con- 

 tents. One species (Myrmelachista ambigua ramulorum) found in 14 stomachs 



