. Annual report . allylives upon trees, and subsist upon the insects or other food which they find the head of these may be placed the family of woodpeckers (Picidae) and fol-lowing these, but scarcely inferior in rank of usefulness, are the titmice (Paridae),the creepers (Certhiidae), the kinglets (Silviidae), the vireos (Vireonidae), and thewood warblers (Mniotiltidae). To these may be added certain species of wrens,orioles, flycatchers and swallows, of which many species subsist to a very consider-able extent upon arboreal insects. In the following pages all references to theconten
. Annual report . allylives upon trees, and subsist upon the insects or other food which they find the head of these may be placed the family of woodpeckers (Picidae) and fol-lowing these, but scarcely inferior in rank of usefulness, are the titmice (Paridae),the creepers (Certhiidae), the kinglets (Silviidae), the vireos (Vireonidae), and thewood warblers (Mniotiltidae). To these may be added certain species of wrens,orioles, flycatchers and swallows, of which many species subsist to a very consider-able extent upon arboreal insects. In the following pages all references to thecontents of birds stomachs, unless otherwise stated, are based on examinationsmade by the writer. The Woodpeckers. Among birds which decidedly affect the welfare of the forest the family ofwoodpeckers probably takes the Lead. Of these there are about forty-five speciesand subspecies that are found within the limits of the United States, all ofwhich are of decidedly economic importance. The value of their work in dollars. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, Adult and Young BIRDS AS CONSERVATORS OF THE FOREST. 239 and cents is difficult of determination, but careful study has brought out much ofpractical importance by ascertaining approximately to what degree each speciesis harmful or helpful in its relation to the forests. Their subsistence is obtainedfor the most part upon trees, a mode of life for which they are specially character of the feet and tail enables them to cling easily to upright trunks,and the structure of the bill and tongue gives them the power to cut into solidwood and withdraw the insects lodged within. The toes are in pairs, one pairprojecting forward and the other backward, and are furnished with very strong,sharp claws, an arrangement which insures a firm hold upon the bark. The tail is
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectforests, bookyear1902