IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER. Q75 
catcher should be confounded with the thief. Until some effectual 
preventive, or more complete mode of destruction, can be devised 
against these insects and their larve, I would humbly suggest the 
propriety of protecting, and’ receiving, with proper feelings of grati- 
tude, the services-of this and the whole tribe of Woodpeckers, letting 
the odium of guilt fall upon its proper owners. 
In looking over the accounts given of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker 
by the naturalists of Europe, I find it asserted that it inhabits from New 
Jersey to Mexico. I believe, however, that few of them are ever 
seen to the north of Virginia, and very few of them even in that 
state. 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. 
There I found the bird from which the drawing of Fig. 131 was 
taken. ' This bird was only wounded slightly in the wing, and, on be- 
ing caught, 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 havé cost me my life. It was distressing to 
hear it. I carried it with me in the chair, under cover, to Wilming- 
ton. 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 alarmed at what they heard; this was greatly 
increased by my asking, whether ‘he could furnish’me with accommo- 
dations for myself and my baby. The man looked blank and foolish, 
-while the others stared with still greater astonishment. After diverting 
myself for a minute or two at their expense, I drew my Woodpecker 
from under the cover, and a general laugh took place. Itook him up 
stairs, and locked him up in my room, while T went to see my horse 
taken care of. In less than an hour, I returned, and, on opening the 
door, he set up the same distressing 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 window, nearly as 
high as the ceiling, a little below which he had begun to break through. 
The bed was covered with large pieces of plaster ; the lath was ex- 
posed 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 an- 
other hour, he would certainly have succeeded in making his way 
through. I now tied a string round his leg, and, fastening it to the ta- 
ble, 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 per- 
ceive that he had almost, entirely 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, 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 south- 
ern Indians, who wear them by way ef.amulet or charm, as well as 
