. Animal biology; Human biology. Parts II & III of First course in biology. Biology. i8o ANIMAL BIOLOGY. Woodpeckers. — Careful observers have noticed that, excepting a single species, these birds rarely leave any conspicuous mark on a healthy tree, except when it is affected by wood-boring larvae, which are accurately located, dis- lodged, and devoured by the wood- pecker. Of the flickers' or yellow- hammers' stomachs examined, three were completely filled with ants. Two of the birds each contained more than 3,000 ants, while the third bird contained fully 5,000. These ants be- long to sp
. Animal biology; Human biology. Parts II & III of First course in biology. Biology. i8o ANIMAL BIOLOGY. Woodpeckers. — Careful observers have noticed that, excepting a single species, these birds rarely leave any conspicuous mark on a healthy tree, except when it is affected by wood-boring larvae, which are accurately located, dis- lodged, and devoured by the wood- pecker. Of the flickers' or yellow- hammers' stomachs examined, three were completely filled with ants. Two of the birds each contained more than 3,000 ants, while the third bird contained fully 5,000. These ants be- long to species which live in the ground. It is these insects for which the flicker is reaching when it runs about in the grass. The yellow-bellied woodpecker or sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) was shown to be guilty of pecking holes in the bark of various forest trees, and sometimes in that of apple trees, and of drinking the sap when the pits became filled. It has been proved, however, that besides tak- ing the sap the bird cap- tures large numbers of insects which are attracted by the sweet fluid, and that these form a very considerable portion of its diet. The woodpeck- ers seem the only agents FIG. IBIS. (Order?) which can successfuny cope with certain insect enemies of the forests, and, to some extent, with those of fruit trees also. For this reason, if for no other, they should be protected in every possible way. FIG. 327. —LYRE BIRD, Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Bailey, L. H. (Liberty Hyde), 1858-1954. New York, The Macmillan Co.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectbiology, bookyear1910
