CAMPEPHILUS PRINCIPALIS. '" ' 



Woodpecker's nest. Upon I'eturning to the s;!me tree, a short time fifter, I started the 

 foniale from hcv dilapidated nest; in a day or two after this, however, I sent a negro hid 

 u;> into the same tree in order to secure the eggs of a Sparrow Hawk which were phiccd 

 in a natural cavity in a limb, at least sixty feet in air, and when passing the nest of the 

 Woodpecker, he looked in but neither of the birds were present nor did I see them in the 

 neighborhood, so concluded that they had deserted their home. I have little doubt, how- 

 over, but that the birds would have deposited their eggs in that nest, had I taken more 

 care in opening the cavity. 



The Pileated Woodpeckers are not at all migratory, being constantly resident, even in 

 Northern Maine, although it is highly probable that they wander in the North during win- 

 ter. In Florida, however, when a pair become attached to any particular locality, they 

 seldom, if ever, leave it but spend their entire lives in a limited area. 



(iENUS VI. CAMPEPIIILUS. THE SCARLET-CHESTED WOODPECKERS. 



(Jkn'. Cn. S/rrnuin, not twice as wide as the heiijht of the keel. Marginal indentations, equal in depth to about one half 

 the hei^th of the heel; outer, more shallow than inner. Mantihriuin, very small. Terminal hook of scapula, nearly straight 

 on the upper, and rounded on the lower, side. Tongue, provided with a long, e.rtensiOle sheath, tvhile the ceratn-hyals are 

 greatly elongated and extend around the back of the skull. Provcntriculus, quite large. Stomach, not very muscular. Sal- 

 ivary glands, quite well developed. Both mandihlcx, straight. Head, crested. 



In ineiuhoK <if tlii*: gonus, the males arc marked on the occiput witli scarlet. The prevailing color on the liodj' is black, 

 relieved by ccjnspicuous markings of white, especially on the wings. The tail feathers are quite acuminate. The hind toe is 

 about one half tlie length of the outer which is projected backward. As in the preceding genus, the head is large and the 

 neck long and thin. There is but one species within our limits. 



CAMPEPHILUS PRINCIPALIS. 

 Ivory-billed Woodpeeker. 



Campcphilus principalis Gray, List of Genera; 1840. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size, large. Sternum, stout. Tongue, rather thin and horny at the tip wbicli is provided 

 with barbs for two thirds of the terminal length. The extensible sheath occupies about one half of the length of the tongue. 

 The salivary glands are moderate in size. There are no laryngeal muscles, excepting the sterno-trachealis whicli is very stout. 

 The tympaniform mrmlirane is present and although there is an os transversale, yet it does not suj)port a semilunar mem- 

 brane. 



Col.OK. Adult male. Uniform glossy black having greenish reflections, with a line from below the ear coverts, running 

 down the neck, liroadening on the shoulders, and extending along the back, short line at base of bill, not reaching the eye, 

 exposed portion (,f primaries and basal portion of two or three inner primaries, and under wing coverts, white. Occiput, 

 and |iortion cxti!niling forward nearly to the eye, forming a ]ioint, and back of ujiper neck, scarlet. 



Adult female. Similar to the male, but lacks the scarlet on the head wliich is rc|)laeed by black. Iris, yellow, bill, 

 iviirv-wliite, foot, greenish, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



This species may lie at once distinguished from all the othci-s which occur within our limit-s, by the large size, white 

 bill and secondaries. They are constantly resident in Florida and are found rarely in the other Gulf States as well as in the 

 i,'arolinas and along the Missi-si|)pi Valley to Southern Illinois. 



DIMENSIONS. 



.■\verag<' measurements. Length, 20' 35; stretch, ."iPOO. wing, !)'30; tail, 6'35; bill, y-7.5; tarsus, I'HO. Longest speci- 

 men, ei-OO; greatest extent of wing, 32-00; longest wing, l)(iO; tail, (l-.W, hill, 2-80; tarsus, 2-00. Shortest specimen, 19-75; 

 smallest extent of wing, 30-00; shortest wing, 'J-OO; tail, 0-2.'); hill, 2-05; t.ai-sus, TOO. 



