12 BULLETIN 174, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



that "after the young leave the nest in April they and the parents 

 remain together until the mating season in December. During the 

 summer they are always found in bands of three to five, and I have 

 never seen more than the latter number." 



Conservation. — Arthur T. Wayne (1910) records having "encoun- 

 tered more than two hundred of these rare birds [in Florida] during 

 the years 1892, 1893, and 1894." Today it is doubtful if there are a 

 fourth of that number left alive in its entire range. 



A number of theories have been advanced for the increasing scarcity 

 of the ivorybill, that most often mentioned being the destruction of 

 its natural habitat, the virgin cypress and bottomland forests of the 

 South. Commercialization, avarice of collectors, shooting for food 

 by natives, predation by natural enemies that can enter its hole (but 

 not the pileated) are likewise suggested, while Allen and Kellogg 

 (1937) suggest that with increasing scarcity because of their sedentary 

 habits, inbreeding and lack of sex rhythm resulting in weak young 

 and infertile eggs have become increasingly important. At this writ- 

 ing the National Association of Audubon Societies has established a 

 Fellowship at Cornell University for the study of the ivorybill, and 

 it is hoped that the incumbent, James Tanner, may ascertain such 

 facts regarding the bird and its habits that constructive measures 

 for its preservation can be undertaken. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — The Southeastern United States; nomnigratory. 



The range of the ivory-billed woodpecker extends north to north- 

 eastern Texas (Gainesville) ; southeastern Oklahoma (Caddo) ; 

 northeastern Arkansas (Newport and Osceola) ; southeastern Mis- 

 souri (Little River) ; southeastern Illinois (Mount Carmel) ; southern 

 Indiana (Monroe County and Franklin County) ; and southeastern 

 North Carolina (Wilmington). East along the coast from North 

 Carolina (Wilmington) to southeastern Florida (Cape Florida). 

 From this point the southern limits of the range extend westward 

 along the Gulf coast to Texas (Guadalupe and New Braunfels). 

 West to eastern Texas (New Braunfels, San Marcos, Brazos River, 

 and Gainesville). 



The range of the species has been so restricted in modern times that 

 periodically it is feared the bird is on the verge of extinction. It is 

 now known to exist only in a very few remote areas, chiefly in 

 Louisiana. 



Egg dates. — Florida: 4 records, March 4 to April 19. 



Louisiana : 5 records, March 6 to May 19. 



Georgia : 2 records, April 6 and 10. 



Texas : 2 records, April 11 and May 3. 



