RECENT CAPTURE OF IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKERS 

 ^CAMPEPHILUS PRINCIPALIS) IN FLORIDA. 



CHAULFS J. pen:;ock. 



While spending a few days collecting on the Gulf coast of West 

 Florida, in April, 1889, near St. Mark's, I heard of a locality in that 

 vicinity that was particularly wild and unfrequented. " A great place 

 for game," etc., and from the various yarns spun I wondered if some 

 of the rarer species of birds might not be found there, and at frequent 

 intervals since that time had planned for a trip to investigate. Finally, 

 giving up an immediate personal search, I obtained the address of a 

 '•'cracker," and was assured that some of the species I hoped for were 

 to be found and that the " Ivory-billed Woodchuck " was of the list. 



Remembering the common experience in (not) obtaining desirable 

 specimens said by natives to be "abundant" in certain localities, I an- 

 ticipated no particular developments, and knowing the abundance of 

 the bird, thought I might receive a specimen of the Pileated Wood- 

 pecker. I was therefore surprised and delighted to have sent me by 

 mail during January, 1900, tsvo specimens of the Ivory-billed Wood- 

 pecker, a male and female, in the flesh and both in quite good condition. 

 They were preserved by withdrawing the viscera and using common 

 salt freely on the flesh. 



A third specimen, male, was received later from another source, but 

 unfortunately was not well cared for, the sender stating he had sent a 

 " hide," an accurate term since the skin had been torn oflf by cutting 

 the bird from tail to under mandible, was minus feet, and had evidently 

 been dried by tacking on a board. 



The measurements of the two better specimens, as taken when 

 received were as follows : 



$ ^ 



Length 19^" 2oh" 



Wing ... loj'^ 9J^ 



Tail lYi 7 



Tarsus 2y^ iji 



Bill 234 2^ 



The length of the female may have been over-extended, due to a dif- 

 ference in preparation before shipment. 



(8) 



