276 1VORY-BILLED WOOL RECKER. 
ornament; and, it is said, dispose of them to the northern tribes at 
considerable prices. An Indian believes that the head, skin, or even 
feathers of certain birds, confer on the wearer all the virtues or excel- 
lences of those birds. Thus I have seen a coat made of the skins, 
heads, and claws of the Raven; caps stuck round with heads of 
Butcher Birds, Hawks, and Eagles; and as the disposition and courage 
of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker are well known to the savages, no 
wonder they should attach great value to it, having both beauty, and, 
in their estimation, distinguished merit to recommend it. 
This bird is not migratory, but resident in the countries where it in- 
habits. In the low countries of the Carolinas, it usually prefers the 
large-timbered cypress swamps for breeding in. In the trunk of one 
of these trees, at a considerable height, the male and female alter-. 
nately, and in conjunction, dig out a large and capacious cavity for 
their eggs and young. Trees thus dug out have frequently been cut 
down, with sometimes the eggs and younginthem. This hole, ac- 
cording to information, —for I have never seen one myself, —is 
generally a little winding, the better to keep out the weather, and 
from two to five feet deep. The eggs are said to be generally four, 
sometimes five, as large as a Pullet’s, pure white, and equally thick at 
both ends—a description that, excépt in size, very nearly agrees 
with all the rest of our Woodpeckers. The young begin to be seen 
abroad about the middle of June. Whether they breed more than 
once in the same season is uncertain.* 
* The description of the nesthng, &c., is thus also even by Audubon. Wilson 
observes that he had no opportunity of ever seeing their holes, and the following 
will tend to render his account more complete : — 
“The Ivory-billed Woodpecker nestles earlicr in spring than any other species 
of its tribe. [have observed it boring a hole for that purpose in the beginning of 
March. The hole is, I believe, always “made in the trunk of a live trce, generally 
anash or a hagberry, and is at a great height. The birds pay great.regard to the 
icular situation of the tree and the inclination of its trunk; first, because they 
prefer retirement, and again, because they are anxious to secure the aperture against 
the access of water during beating rains. To prevent such a calamity, the hole is 
generally dug immediately under the junction of a large branch with the trunk. It 
Is first bored horizontally for a few inches, then directly downwards, and not ina 
spiral manner, as some people have imagined. According to circumstances, this 
cavity is more or ess deep, being sometimes not more than ten inches, whilst at 
other times it rea hes nearly three feet downwards into the core of the tree. I 
have been Jed to think that these differences result from the more or less immediate 
necessity under which the female may be of depositing her eggs, and again have 
thought that ‘the older the Woodpecker is, the deeper does it make its hole. The av- 
erage diameter of the different nests which I have examined, was about seven inches 
within, although the entrance, which is perfectly round, is only just large enough to 
admit the bird. 
* Both birds work most assiduously at this excavation, one waiting outside to en- 
courage the other, whilst itis engaged in digging, and when the latter is fatigued, 
taking its place. I have approached trees whilst these Woodpeckers were thus 
busily employed in forming their nest, and by resting my hea inst the bark, 
could easily distinguish every blow given by the bird. I observed that in two in- 
stances, when the Woodpecker saw me thus at the foot of the tree in which they 
were digging their nest, they abandoned it forever. _ For the first brood there are 
generally six eggs. They are deposited on a few chips at the bottom of the hole, 
and are of a pure white color. The young are seen creeping out of the hole about 
a fortnight before they venture to fly to any other tree. The secand brood makes 
its appearance about the 15th of August. : : 
