168 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Of all our woodpeckers the sapsucker is the one exception to the 
rule. This species eats many insects, but its fondness for the sap 
of trees, including apple and other orchard trees, with its habit of 
cutting out sections of the bark to obtain its favorite tipple, renders 
it a nuisance in some localities. It is one of a number of birds that 
are harmful and beneficial bv turns or according to locality. Little 
blame attaches to the orchardist who blacklists the sapsucker; but 
he should familiarize himself with the appearance of his enemy, 
that he may distinguish him from other kinds, so that his extreme 
measure of retaliation may not fall upon innocent species which can 
ill be spared. 
Wood warblers.— America is peculiarly fortunate in possessing 
this beautiful group, in some respects unlike the birds of any other 
land, and excelled by none in grace of form, sprightly motions, and 
beauty of plumage. The family is large and numbers of the species 
included in it visit every part of our domain at some season or 
other. While some live on or near the ground and share with the 
thrushes the task of hunting for ground-frequenting insects, the great 
majority haunt the trees and shrubbery, and spend their time glean¬ 
ing an insect harvest from foliage and twigs. Eggs, larvae, and 
adult insects alike are welcome, and when flying insects are dislodged 
from their hiding places the warblers successfully essay the role of 
flycatchers and snap them up on the wing. No insects are too minute 
to escape their prying eyes, and they are particularly successful in 
discovering and devouring plant lice, immense numbers of which 
infest our fruit and shade trees. Finally, it may be said of the war¬ 
blers that they are truly insectivorous, as they eat very little vege¬ 
table food, and the little they do eat has no special economic value. 
(See PI. VI.) 
Thrushes.— The thrushes and their near allies, the bluebirds, are 
two groups of insectivorous birds, all the members of which are fond 
of fruit. All sorts of wild berries are highly esteemed by them, and 
no one will deny that they are quite within their rights in appro¬ 
priating them. Unfortunately, however, the most prominent mem¬ 
ber of the group—and in some respects the most highly esteemed— 
has developed an uncontrollable appetite for cherries, strawberries, 
and other cultivated fruits which often renders him a nuisance to the 
grower of small fruits. The fruit grower can hardly be expected to 
accept the confiding habits and the sweet song of the robin as full 
payment for a crop of cherries upon which depends a considerable 
part of his own livelihood and that of his family. In connection 
with the depredations of the robin, it is confidently believed that 
mulberry, wild cherry, and other fruit-bearing trees of little or no 
commercial value can be planted near orchards so as to protect the 
