648 
A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS 
proved, however, that besides taking the sap the bird captures 
large numbers of insects, which are attracted by the sweet fluid, 
and that these form a very considerable portion of its diet. In 
some cases the trees are injured by being thus punctured, and 
die in a year or two, but since comparatively few are touched 
the damage is not great. It is equally probable, moreover, that 
the bird fully compensates for this injury by the insects it con- 
sumes. 
. 
“ Many other Woodpeckers are found in America, but their 
food habits agree in the main with those just described. These 
birds are certainly the only agents which can successfully cope 
with certain insect enemies of the forests, and, to some extent, 
of fruit trees also. For this reason, if for no other, they 
should be protected in every possible way.” — F. E. L. Beal. 
ORDER PICI : WOODPECKERS, ETC. 
Family Picidae: Woodpeckers 
Hairy Woodpecker: Dryobates villosus. R. 
Length: 9-10 inches. 
Male and Female: Above black and white, white stripe on middle of 
back, red stripe on head. Wings spotted and striped with black 
and white, four outer tail feathers white. Under parts grayish 
white. Bill blunt, stout, and straight, nearly as long as head. 
Female lacks red spot on head. 
Note: A short, tapping sound. 
Season: Resident; shifting about in light woods. 
Nest: In holes in trees at moderate height. 
Eggs: 5, clear white, but, according to Samuels, owing to their trans- 
parency, they have a pink tint before they are blown. 
A common Woodpecker, though somewhat more shy and 
less frequently seen near dwellings than the Downy, except in 
cold weather, when it is pressed for food. At this time it will 
be a most constant customer of your lunch counter. 
Downy Woodpecker: Picus pubescens. R. 
Plate IX Fig. 1 
Length: 6-7 inches, the smallest of our Woodpeckers. 
Male and Female: Closely resembling the last species. Wings and 
tail barred with white ; the narrow, red head band of the male is 
replaced by a white stripe in the female. 
