IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER. 



392. Campephiluo principalis. 20 inches. 



Male with a scarlet crest, female with a black one. 



These are the largest and most rare of the Woodpeek 

 ers found within our borders. Their decline in numbers 

 ES due, to a certain extent, to the killing of them because 

 of their size and beauty, but chiefly on account of cutting 

 off of a great deal of the heavy timber where they nest. 

 They are very powerful birds and often scale the bark 

 off the greater portion of a tree in their search for in- 

 sects and grubs, while they will bore into the heart of a 

 living tree to make their home. 



Note. — A shrill two-syllabled shriek or whistle. 



I^est. — In holes of large trees in impenetrable swamps. 

 On the chips at the bottom of the cavity, they lay from 

 three to six glossy, pure white eggs ( 1.45 x 1.00). 



Range. — Formerly the South Atlantic States and west 

 to Texas and Indian Territory, but now confined to a few 

 isolated portions of Florida and, possibly, Indian Terri- 

 tory. 



