54 THE ARCHITECTURE OF BIRDS. 
ly increased by my asking whether he could furnish 
me with accommodations for myself and my baby. 
The man looked blank and foolish, while the others 
stared with still greater astonishment. After divert- 
ing myself for a minute or two at their expense, I 
drew ny woodpecker from under the cover, and a 
general laugh took place. I took him up stairs, and 
locked him up in my room, while I went to see my 
horse taken care of. In less than an hour I return- 
ed, and, on opening the door, he set up the same dis- 
tressing shout, which now appeared to proceed from 
grief that he had been discovered in his attempts at 
escape. He had mounted along the side of the win- 
dow, nearly as high as the ceiling, a little below 
which he had begun to break through. ‘lhe bed 
was covered with large pieces of plaster, the lath 
was exposed for at least fifteen inches square, and 
a hole, large enough to admit the fist, opened to the 
weather-boards ; so that, in less than another hour, 
he would certainly have succeeded in making his 
way through. I now tied a string round his leg, and, 
fastening it to the table, again left him. I wished 
to preserve his life, and had gone off in search of 
suitable food for him. As I reascended the stairs 
I heard him again hard at work, and on entering had 
the mortification to perceive that he had almost en- 
tirely ruined the mahogany table to which he was 
fastened, and on which he had wreaked his whole 
vengeance. While engaged in taking the drawing, 
he cut me severely in several places, and on the 
whole he displayed such a noble and unconquerable 
spirit, that I was frequently tempted to restore him 
to his native woods. He lived with me nearly three 
days, but refused all sustenance; and I witnessed 
his death with regret. The head and bill of this 
bird is in great esteem among the Southern Indians, 
who wear them by way of amulet or charm, as 
well as ornament, and, it is said, dispose of them to 
the Northern tribes at considerable prices. An In- 
