V 
298 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
bellied” and the other the “red-breasted.” In many eases where the 
tree is not killed outright by the action of the sap -suckers the wood is 
stained and distorted to such an extent as to reduce considerably its 
value for ornamental and even structural purposes. From this source 
alone there is a yearly loss to this country of more than a million and 
one-fourth of dollars. How many birds could nest in this timber? 
There is practically nothing in the activities of these birds to compen- 
sate us for the harm they cause. An examination of the tongue of such 
birds discloses the fact that they are incapable of drawing insects out 
from under the bark like other woodpeckers, since they have not the 
appropriate barbs at the tip of the tongue. On the other hand they 
have a peculiar swab-like arrangement that makes sap-sucking a very 
simple operation. 
These birds it seems all have yellow bellies, whereas very few other 
woodpeckers have. All sap-suckers have a white patch on the upper 
part of the wing, as seen from the sides. Other woodpeckers having 
white patches on the middle or lower portion of the wing. Also it is a 
destroyer of the bluebird’s eggs. 
