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34. P. puhescens. The Downy Woodpecker, commonly called the SapsucJcer, 
is charged with frequenting orchards and destroying trees by sucking the juices. 
Dr. Kirtland, in his report on the birds of this State in 1838, says : “ This small 
bird is one of the most destructive enemies of our orchards. While they are visi- 
ted by the other species to capture innumerable small insects and worms that 
infest and injure the trees, this bird appears intent on destroying the trees them- 
selves, which it is sure to accomplish in the course of a year or two by encircling 
their bodies by a series of punctures through the bark. I am inclined to believe, 
with the popular opinion, that it does it for the sake of sucking the juices of the 
trees. It has long been known to people of observation that it always selects those 
trees in a sugar or maple grove that furnishes the sweetest sugar water, and it has 
its favorite trees in our orchards, and appears to select them without reference to 
age, thriftiness or any evident circumstance, but most likely according as they 
afford palatable food. While the visits of all other species should be encouraged, 
even though they should occasionally mutilate or purloin a little fruit, it becomes 
the farmer and horticulturist to carry on a war of extermination against the sap- 
sucker.” 
This opinion, from so high a source, is certainly worthy of consideration. But 
we must confess that we are obliged to believe that the sapsucker and all other of 
the woodpeckers are much more useful than injurious ; and in this opinion we 
believe we have the support of all others who have examined the subject, with 
the exception of the one above quoted. As to the Downy Woodpecker sucking sa}} 
we are inclined to think it a physical impossibility. Any one who has observed 
birds drink knows that they do not appear to have power of suction, and that they 
invariably raise their head to allow the water which they have taken into their bill 
to descend into the throat. The only bird which we know to possess the power 
of sucking is tbe humming bird, and it is furnished with a very peculiar apparatus 
connected with the tongue. This apparatus, which may be said to consist of tubes, 
is inserted with the tongue in the ilowers from which it obtains its food. Although 
furnished with this apparatus for sipping the honey from flowers, by far the 
greater part of its food consists of insects. An examination of the tongue of the 
woodpecker indicates that it is entirely without any such apparatus — indeed the 
construction of its barbed, horny tip, would seem to preclude any such action as 
that charged. Besides, the Downy Woodpecker is most frequently seen in our 
gardens and orchards during fall and winter, at which time the sap of trees has 
descended from the trunk and branches. For these reasons we think that this 
charge cannot be sustained against the Downy Woodpecker any more than against 
any other woodpecker, and no more against woodpeckers in general than other 
birds. The real object of his tapping the trees, in the manner mentioned, is to 
