IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER. 
443 
is in quest of these enemies of the most imposing part of the 
vegetable creation that the industrious and indefatigable Wood- 
pecker exercises his peculiar labor. In the sound and healthy 
tree he finds nothing which serves him for food. 
One of these birds, which Wilson wounded, survived with 
him nearly three days, but was so savage and unconquerable as 
to refuse all sustenance. When taken, he reiterated a loud and 
piteous complaint, almost exactly like the violent crying of a 
young child ; and on being left alone in a tavern, in the course 
of an hour he had nearly succeeded in making his way through 
the side of the wooden house. He also cut the author severely 
in several places while engaged in drawing his portrait, and 
displayed, as long as he survived, the unconquerable spirit of a 
genuine son of the forest. From his magnanimous courage 
and ardent love of liberty, the head and bill are in high esteem 
among the amulets of the Southern Indians. 
The nest of this species is usually made in the living trunk 
of the cypress-tree at a considerable height, both sexes alter- 
nately engaging in the labor. The excavation is said to be 
two or more feet in depth. The young are fledged and abroad 
about the middle of June. It is usually known by the name of 
“ Large Log-cock.” This species appears to live almost wholly 
upon insects, and chiefly those that bore into the w'ood, w'hich 
never fail in the country he inhabits ; nor is he ever known 
to taste of Indian com or any sort of grain or orchard 
fruits, though he has a fondness for grapes and other kinds of 
berries. 
This species is now restricted to the Gulf States and lower 
Mississippi valley. 
