I- 



PICID.E. 



PICID.E. 



scarlet. Line bounding the crest laterally from the eye, a baud from 

 the nostrils to the side of the nape, thence along the neck to the sides 

 of the breast, the concealed bases of all the quill-feathers, a spot 

 covered by the spurious wing, the chin, throat, and inner wing-coverts 

 pure white. A bar across the orbit and to the middle of the nape, 

 and the rest of the plumage, pitch-black, purest on the quills and tail. 

 Some of the ventral feathers are fringed with gray, and two or three 

 of the greater quills are tipped exteriorly with brownish-white. Bill 

 blackish-gray above, pale horn-colour beneath. Irides golden-yellow. 

 Legs bluish-black. 



The female has a yellowish-brown forehead, with darker shafts and 

 a blackish maxillary stripe. Length of a male killed in the winter, 

 67 N. hit., near the Rocky Mountains, 20 inches. 



This bird is not unfrequent in well-timbered forests, from Mexico 

 to Canada, at least to 50" N. lat. (NuttalL) 



Catesby says that these birds (besides insects which they get from 

 rotten trees, their usual food) are destructive to maize by pecking 

 holes through the husks that inclose the grain, and letting in the wet 

 Sir John Richardson states that the stillness of the primeval shades 

 which it frequents is often invaded by the stroke of its powerful bill, 

 which excels the woodman's axe in the loudness of its sound, and 

 Rtill more in the rapidity with which its blows are urged ; nor does it, 

 he adds, fall far short in the quantity of chips it produces. Like 

 other Woodpeckers, it is, he says, extremely industrious, seemingly 

 never a moment idle, flying from tree to tree, and plying its head like 

 a hammer the instant that it alights. 



" From the tall trees which cast their giant arms over all the un- 

 cleared river lands may often be heard his loud, echoing, and incessant 

 cackle, as he flies restlessly from tree to tree, presaging the approach 

 of rainy weather. These notes resemble ekerek rek rek rek, rek, rek, 

 rek, uttered in a loud cadence, which gradually rises and falls. The 

 marks of his industry are also abundantly visible on the decaying 

 trees, which he probes and chisels with great dexterity, stripping oil' 

 wide flakes of loosened bark, to come at the burrowing insects which 

 chiefly compose his food. In whatever engaged, haste and wildness 

 seem to govern all his motions ; and by dodging and flying from place 

 to place as soon as observed, he continues to escape every appearance 

 of danger. Even in the event of a fatal wound, he still struggles with 

 unconquerable resolution to maintain his grasp on the trunk to which 

 lie trusts for his safety, to the very instant of death. When caught 

 by a disabling wound, he still holds his ground against a tree, and 

 strikes with bitterness the suspicious hand which attempts to grasp 

 him, and, resolute for his native liberty, rarely submits to live in con- 

 finement." Nuttall further states that this species is without much 

 foundation charged at times with tasting maize, but in winter he 

 observed the bird in South Carolina occasionally making a hearty 

 repast on holly and similar berries. 



The female lays about six snow-white eggs in the cavity of a tree. 

 Two broods are said to be produced in a season. 



P. principally. This is the Largest White-Bill Woodpecker of 

 Catesby ; Ivory-Billed Woodpecker and Large Log-Cock of the Anglo- 

 Americans. 



Black with a gloss of green. Fore part of the head black, the 

 rest of the crest crimson, with some white at the base. A stripe 

 of white proceeding from a little below the eye, down each side 

 of the neck, and along the back (where the two are about an inch 

 apart) nearly to the rump. Tail black, tapering from the two exterior 

 feathers, which are three inches shorter than the middle ones, the 

 feathers concave below. Legs lead-colour. Bill an inch broad at the 

 base, of the colour and consistence of ivory, and channelled. Tongue 

 also white. Iris vivid yellow. Length about 20 inches; alar extent 

 about 30 inches. (Nuttall.) 



It is found in Brazil, Mexico, the Southern States, seldom seen to 

 the north of Virginia, and but rarely in that state. 



Catesby says that these birds " subsist chiefly on ants, wood-worms, 

 and other insects, which they hew out of rotten trees, nature having 

 so formed their bills, that in an hour or two they will raise a bushel 

 of chip, for which the Spaniards call them ' Carpenteros.' HB adds 

 that their bills are much valued by the Canada Indians, who make 

 coronets of them for their princes and great warriors by fixing them 

 round a wreath, with their points outward. The Northern Indians, 

 he tells us, having none of these birds in their cold country, purchase 

 them of the southern people at the price of two and sometimes three 

 buck-skins a bill. 



Nuttall states that it is a constant resident in the countries where it 

 is found, in the warmer regions, breeding in the rainy season, and that 

 the pair are believed to be united for life. 



Wilson, whose 'American Ornithology" is known to every lover of 

 the subject and of nature, wounded one of these birds. His narrative 

 ia painfuL The Woodpecker did not survive his captivity more than 

 three days, during which he manifested an unconquerable spirit, and 

 refused all sustenance. When he was taken he uttered cries almost 

 like those of an infant; and no sooner was he left alone for an hour, 

 than he so worked, that he nearly made a way through the wooden 

 house in which he was confined. He severely wounded Wilson whilst 

 the naturalist was sketching him, and died with unabated spirit. This 

 unconquerable cournge most probably gave the head and bill of the 

 '< much value in the eyes of the Indians. 



J 



Largest White-Bill Woodpecker (Pirns printipalit). 

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Pieiu Chilcmis. (C.-jquiite.) 



