THE IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER. 



413 



powerful bill. On account of this bold and fiery disposition, the American Indians ]iay much 

 honor to the bird, and are in tlie habit of carrying its head and bill among the numerous 

 charms or ' ' medicines ' ' in which they delight, and which are supposed to transmit to the 

 wearer the good qualities of the slain creature. 



The voice of this Woodpecker is seldom uttered while the bird is on the wing, but is fre- 

 quently heard as soon as the bird has alighted. It is a rather shrill and very loud tone, and 

 can be heard at a great distance. 



rV'OKV BILLED WOODPECKER.— Cam^cM*^"* pnncipalis 



The cry of the wounded bird is, according to Wilson, just like that of a hurt child. " The 

 first place I observed this bird at, when on my way to the south, was about twelve miles north 

 of Wilmington, in North Carolina. Having wounded it slightly in the wing, on being caught, 

 it uttered a loudly reiterated and most piteous note, exactly resembling the violent crying of a 

 young child, which terrified my horse so as nearly to have cost me my life. 



"It was distressing to hear it. I carried it with me in the chair, under cover, to Wil- 

 mington. In passing through the streets, its affecting cries surprised every one within hearing, 

 particularly the females, who hurried to the doors and windows with looks of alarm and 

 anxiety. I drove on, and on arriving at the piazza of the hotel where I intended to put up, the 

 landlord came forward, and a number of other persons who happened to be there, all equally 

 alai-med at what they heard ; this was greatly increased by my asking whether he could fur- 

 nish me with accommodations for myself and my baby. The man looked blank and foolish, 



