IVOR Y- BILLED WO ODPE CKER. 



13 



it ; or as if the thief-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 

 larvae, I would humbly suggest the propriety of protecting, 

 and receiving with proper feelings of gratitude, 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 wood- 

 pecker 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 the figure in the plate was 

 taken. This bird was only wounded slightly in the wing, and, 

 on being 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 have cost me my life. 

 It was distressing to hear it. I carried it with me in the chair, 

 under cover, to Wilmington. In passing through the streets, 

 its affecting cries surprised every one within hearing, par- 

 ticularly 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 accommodations 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. I took him up 

 stairs and locked him up in my room, while I 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 



