IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER. 
15 
in. In the trunk of one of these trees, at a considerable 
height, the male and female alternately, and in conjunction, 
dig out a large and capacious cavity for their eggs and 
young. Trees thus dug out have frequently been cut down, 
with sometimes the eggs , and young in them. This hole, 
according to information, — for I have never seen one myself, 
— is generally a little winding, the better to keep out the 
weather, and from two to five feet deep. The eggs are said 
to be generally four, sometimes five, as large as a pullet’s, 
pure white, and equally thick at both ends — a description 
that, except in size, very nearly agrees with all the rest of our 
Woodpeckers. The young begin to be seen abroad about the 
middle of June. Whether they breed more than once in the 
same season is uncertain.* 
* The description of the nestling, &c. is thus also given by Audubon. 
Wilson observes, that he had no opportunity of ever seeing their holes, and the 
following will tend to render his account more complete : — 
“ The Ivory-billed Woodpecker nestles earlier in spring than any other 
species of its tribe. I have observed it boring a hole for that purpose in the 
beginning of March. The hole is, I believe, always made in the trunk of a 
live tree, generally an ash or a hagberry, and is at a great height. The birds 
pay great regard to the particular situation of the tree, and the inclination of its 
trunk ; first, because they prefer retirement, and again, because they are anxious 
to secure the aperture against the access of water during beating rains. To 
prevent such a calamity, the hole is generally dug immediately under the junc- 
tion of a large branch with the trunk. It is first bored horizontally for a few 
inches, then directly downwards, and not in a spiral manner, as some people 
have imagined. According to circumstances, this cavity is more or less deep, 
being sometimes not more than ten inches, 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 depositing 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 Woodpeckers 
