218 THE IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER. 



monarchs of our forests so excavated, and that so singularly, that the tottering 

 fragments of the trunk appeared to be merely supported by the great pile of 

 chips by which its base was surrounded. The strength of this Woodpecker 

 is such, that I have seen it detach pieces of bark seven or eight inches in 

 length at a single blow of its powerful bill, and by beginning at the top 

 branch of a dead tree, tear off the bark, to an extent of twenty or thirty feet, 

 in the course of a few hours, leaping downwards with its body in an upward 

 position, tossing its head to the right and left, or leaning it against the bark 

 to ascertain the precise spot where the grubs were concealed, and imme- 

 diately after renewing its blows with fresh vigour, all the while sounding its 

 loud notes, as if highly delighted. 



This species generally moves in pairs, after the young have left their 

 parents. The female is always the most clamorous and the least shy. Their 

 mutual attachment is, I believe, continued through life. Excepting when 

 digging a hole for the reception of their eggs, these birds seldom, if ever, 

 attack living trees, for any other purpose than that of procuring food, in 

 doing which they destroy the insects that would otherwise prove injurious 

 to the trees. 



I have frequently observed the male and female retire to rest for the 

 night, into the same hole in which they had long before reared their young. 

 This generally happens a short time after sunset. 



When wounded and brought to the ground, the Ivory-bill immediately 

 makes for the nearest tree, and ascends it with great rapidity and perse- 

 verance, until it reaches the top branches, when it squats and hides, generally 

 with great effect. Whilst ascending, it moves spirally round the tree, utters 

 its loud pait, petit, petit, at almost every hop, but becomes silent the moment 

 it reaches a place where it conceives itself secure. They sometimes cling to 

 the bark with their claws so firmly, as to remain cramped to the spot for 

 several hours after death. When taken by the hand, which is rather a 

 hazardous undertaking, they strike with great violence, and inflict very 

 severe wounds with their bill as well as claws, which are extremely sharp 

 and strong. On such occasions, this bird utters a mournful and very piteous 

 cry. 



I have only to add to what I have said of the habits and distribution of 

 this species, that I found it very abundant along the finely wooded margins 

 of that singular stream, called "Buffalo Bayou," in the Texas, where we 

 procured several specimens. 



Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Picus principalis, Wils. Amcr. Orn., vol. iv. p. 20. 

 Plena principalis, Bonap. Syn., p. 44. 



Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Picus principalis, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 564. 

 Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Picus principalis, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 341; vol. v. 

 p. 525. 



