14 



IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER. 



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 exposed 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 another 

 hour he would certainly have succeeded in making his way 

 through. I now tied a string round his leg, and, fastening 

 it to the table, 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 perceive 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 uncon- 

 querable 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 

 southern Indians, who wear them by way of amulet or charm, 

 as well as 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 excellencies 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 inhabits. 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, 



