. Bulletin - Biological Survey. Zoology, Economic. 98 WOODPECKERS IN RELATION TO TREES. mixture) with 1 pint of honey or other thick sirup. Apply to the injured tree just above the rows of fresh punctures. A simpler way of poisoning the sapsuckers was discovered by Mr. Ned Dearborn of the Biological Survey. The powdered strychnine (alkaloid) was introduced directly into the fresh sap pits, by means of a bit of straw or grass stem. A very small quantity sufficed for each hole, and the poison remained effective for at least two days. It should be noted here that humming birds and some other smal
. Bulletin - Biological Survey. Zoology, Economic. 98 WOODPECKERS IN RELATION TO TREES. mixture) with 1 pint of honey or other thick sirup. Apply to the injured tree just above the rows of fresh punctures. A simpler way of poisoning the sapsuckers was discovered by Mr. Ned Dearborn of the Biological Survey. The powdered strychnine (alkaloid) was introduced directly into the fresh sap pits, by means of a bit of straw or grass stem. A very small quantity sufficed for each hole, and the poison remained effective for at least two days. It should be noted here that humming birds and some other small birds, particularly warblers, will be killed by poison intended for sapsuckers. Nevertheless, taking all things into consideration, it seems wise to recommend the use of poison rather than the gun. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. From an economic standpoint woodpeckers may be divided into two groups: (1) The woodpeckers proper, which are chiefly beneficial. These slightly damage trees when excavating nests and shelter cavities. In some sections they are responsi- ble also for injury to telephone and telegraph poles and for minor damage to houses', barns, fences, and other structures. To minimize this dam- age the trial of nesting boxes especially designed for woodpeckers is recommended. Killing the birds should be the last resort. When all is said and done, however, wood- peckers of this group much more than compensate for all the harm they do by devouring large numbers of the insect enemies of trees, many of which are preyed on by no other birds. (2) Sapsuckers, which are very injurious. The sapsuckers, unlike other woodpeckers, secure a considerable part of their subsistence from the tissues and juices of trees. In doing tins they often destroy so much of the cambium or growing layer that the trees are weakened and disfigured or even killed. Further, the wood of many of the trees they attack is so stained and distorted during the healing process that its value for lumber is impaired o
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