Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-08-27

1z'i71F&SS2T1TW
HAIRY NOODPECKER.
birds do On the contrary cucloos eat
so many hairy caterpillars that the
hairs pierce the inner Innings of their
stomachs; and when they are opened
and turned inside out, the cuckoo stom-
achs seem to be lined with a thin coat
i ing of fur, which appears to be part OF |
the stomach itself. Nature provides for |
+ continued digestion, just the same,
While the scientific slaughter Of
cuclioos was going on, 16 of the birds
were examined, and the result shows |
that they had all been diligently en-
gagged in helping the farmers of their
neighborhood. The 16 stomachs showed
the remains of 1928 caterpillars. II
beetles, Is grasshoppers, 63 saw flies
four spiders, and three stink bugs.
Those were industrious birds, and they
were doing their best for their farmer
friends, when they were ruthlessly shot
down for scientific investigation Just
think of it. There were 32S caterpillars
many of them in the larva stage. But
for those cuckoos all of those caterpil
lars would have been working on the
leaves of trees; and they prefer apple
trees. OF the 63 saw flies, GO were in
the larva stage.
Investigation demonstrates that
farmers should do their best to culti-
rate woodpeckers. They leave no marks
on healthy trees. On the contrary they
unerringly trail down the wood-boring
larva, and dislodge and devour them.
It is a picnic for woodpecker to catch
these tree killers. They eat them with
as much satisfaction and qualification
as summer girl manifests over dish
of ice cream. 1t usually happens that
after these wood-boring larva are de-
stroyed, the holes are filled with coll
ories of ants. Do the woodpeckers
leave them to thrive there? Not much,
they like ants pretty well. too; and
they watch those holes carefully, well
knowing that they will have an epicu-
rean festival of ants after little while;
and consequently they keep the trees
clean all the time. II is their business
and pleasure to do so. Two flicker
woodpeckers' stomachs were examined
in the laboratory, and they each con-
tained 1000 ants, besides the wood-bor-
ing larva. Those were good wood
pecllers, and ought to have been kept
and cultivated by the farmers tiresides
as near neighbors and close friends.
The official bulletin has q good word
also Tor the red-headed woodpecker.
1t is admitted that this bird is guilty
of tapping trees and drinking the sap.
It has been discovered, however, that
very few trees are seriously injured I;
although some have died within year
or two, after being sapped by these
red-headed fellows. The professor
> saws. however, that the bird captures
. millions of insects which are attracted
by the sweet sap, and the tree tapping
= is largely for the purpose OF catching
-. insects. It is probable that the red
head fully compensates for the damage
q done by sapsucking, in consuming sc
p many insects
% The liingbird comes in for a word ot
= praise, He is distinctly fly catcher
g and takes a large portion of his food or
% the wing. The kingbird also watches
~ the trees closely. and gathers in al
"a sorts of insects. This bird has beer
II. suspected of catching honey bees; bu
n an Iowa farmer says that he shot {
va dozen kingbirds near his hives, anC
M found not a single bee in any one o
NJ their stomachs. Therefore he con
%. cludes that the kingbird is guiltless o
rs. this charge; modified by the fact that il
sv various parts of the country IA king
lie birds were killed, and 40 drone bee
cir were found in their stomachs. Ism
,lv that wonderful? How in the realm G
es intelligence could those birds kno,
les that the drones were proper prey, Will
md the working bees and queens must b
ow spared?
pa- The meadow lark is compliments
IT'S. because of the fact that 1t feeds a
,m. most wholly upon insects. In 2;
nts stomachs examined, it was discovere
pen that 73 per cent. of the food of the birC
at consisted of insects alone, II nests c
II the ground, and walks about wit
Il II dainty step, knowing that it is a we
fer. come visitor and therefore not in fe;
fter of human assault. The meadow lal
,o1t is wholly beneficial, and is not gull
,ere of the common charge of pulling sproI
less ing grain. 1t loves fat bugs and beetl,
the and takes grasshoppers and caterp
~ lars also. whenever they can be four
Even when the ground is covered wi
non snow. this bird finds insects someho
-der and does not seek the granaries. II
not a very skillful insect catcher.
MOT This letter contains only an epito
! NJ Of the proofs presented in favor Of ,
,at farmers friend, the common birds.
SMITH D. FIR,