THE IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER. 217 



whilst at other times it reaches nearly three feet downwards into the core of 

 the tree. I have been led to think that these differences result from the 

 more or less immediate necessity under which the female may be of deposit- 

 ing her eggs, and again have thought that the older the Woodpecker is, the 

 deeper does it make its hole. The average 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 encourage the other, whilst it is engaged in digging, and when the latter 

 is fatigued, taking its place. I have approached trees whilst these Wood- 

 peckers were thus busily employed in forming their nest, and by resting my 

 head against the bark, could easily distinguish every blow given by the bird. 

 I observed that in two instances, when the Woodpeckers saw me thus at the 

 foot of the tree in which they were digging their nest, they abandoned it 

 for ever. 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 

 colour. The young are seen creeping out of the hole about a fortnight 

 before they venture to fly to any other tree. The second brood makes its 

 appearance about the 15th of August. 



In Kentucky and Indiana, the Ivory-bills seldom raise more than one 

 brood in the season. The young are at first of the colour of the female, 

 only that they want the crest, which, however, grows rapidly, and towards 

 autumn, particularly in birds of the first breed, is nearly equal to that of the 

 mother. The males have then a slight line of red on the head, and do not 

 attain their richness of plumage until spring, or their full size until the 

 second year. Indeed, even then, a difference is easily observed between 

 them and individuals which are much older. 



The food of this species consists principally of beetles, larvae, and large 

 grubs. No sooner, however, are the grapes of our forests ripe than they are 

 eaten by the Ivory-billed Woodpecker with great avidity. I have seen this 

 bird hang by its claws to the vines, in the position so often assumed by a 

 Titmouse, and, reaching downwards, help itself to a bunch of grapes with 

 much apparent pleasure. Persimons are also sought for by them, as soon as 

 the fruit becomes quite mellow, as are hagberries. 



The Ivory-bill is never seen attacking the corn, or the fruit of the 

 orchards, although it is sometimes observed working upon and chipping off 

 the bark from the belted trees of the newly-cleared plantations. It seldom 

 comes near the ground, but prefers at all times the tops of the tallest trees. 

 Should it, however, discover the half-standing broken shaft of a large dead 

 and rotten tree, it attacks it in such a manner as nearly to demolish it in the 

 course of a few days. I have seen the remains of some of these ancient 



Vol. IV. 30 



