29: 



ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS. 



[In another part of this number we have spoken of the delightful work oflj 

 American Ornithology, which Mr Audubon has recently given to the world. 

 The nature of this Journal does not permit of lengthy criticisms or eulogiums ; 

 but having in the Notices and Analyses briefly expressed our opinion of the 

 " Biography " of Birds, we think that some pages of the Zoological CoUec- 

 tions may be advantageously occupied with a few extracts, which will give 

 the reader an idea of our author's style Ed.] 



Ivory-hilled Woodpecker The ivory-billed woodpecker confines its 



rambles to a comparatively very small portion of the United States, it 

 never having been observed in the Middle States within the memory of any 

 person now living there. In fact, in no portion of these districts does the 

 nature of the woods appear suitable to its remarkable habits. 



Descending the Ohio, we meet with this splendid bird for the first time 

 near the confluence of that beautiful river and the Mississippi ; after which, 

 following the windings of the latter, either downwards toward the sea, or 

 upwards in the direction of the Missouri, we frequently observe it. On the 

 Atlantic coast. North Carolina may be taken as the limit of its distribution, 

 although now and then an individual of the species may be accidentally seen 

 in Maryland. To the westward of the Mississippi, it is found in all the 

 dense forests bordering the streams which empty their waters into that 

 majestic river, from the very declivities of the Rocky Mountains. The 

 lower parts of the Carolinas, Georgia, Allabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi; 

 are, however, the most favourite resorts of this bird, and in those States it 

 constantly resides, breeds, and passes a life of peaceful enjoyment, finding a 

 profusion of food in all the deep, dark, and gloomy swamps dispersed 

 throughout them. 



I wish, kind reader, it were in my power to present to your mind's eye* 

 the favourite resort of the ivory-billed woodpecker. Would that I could 

 describe the extent of those deep morasses, overshadowed by millions of 

 gigantic dark cypresses, spreading their sturdy moss-covered branches, as if 

 to admonish intruding man to pause and reflect on the many difficulties 

 which he must encounter, should he persist in venturing farther into their 

 almost inaccessible recesses, extending for miles before him, where he should 

 be interrupted by huge projecting branches, here and there the massy trunk 

 of a fallen and decaying tree, and thousands of creeping and twining plants 

 of numberless species ! Would that I could represent to you the dangerous 

 nature of the ground, its oozing, spongy, and miry disposition, although 

 covered with a beautiful but treacherous carpeting, composed of the richest 

 mosses, flags, and water-lilies, no sooner receiving the pressure of the foot 

 than it yields and endangers the very life of the adventurer, whilst here and 

 there, as he approaches an opening, that proves merely a lake of black muddy 

 water, his ear is assailed by the dismal croaking of innumerable frogs, the 

 hissing of serpents, or the bellowing of alligators ! Would that I could give 

 you an idea of the sultry, pestiferous atmosphere, that nearly suflTocates the 

 intruder during the meridian heat of our dogdays, in those gloomy and 

 horrible swamps ! But the attempt to picture these scenes would be vain. 

 Nothing short of ocular demonstration can impress any adequate idea of 

 them. 



TTie Cow-pen Bird. — When the female is about to deposit her e^s, she is 

 observed to leave her companions, and perch upon a tree or fence, assuming 

 an appearance of uneasiness. Her object is to observe other birds while 



VOL. III. 2 p 



