THE IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER. 137 
insects which ever infest those noble trees. Wilson 
says that, “ Wherever he frequents, he leaves numer- 
ous monuments of his industry behind him. We 
there see enormous pine trees, with cart-loads of bark 
lying around their roots, and chips of the trunk it- 
self, in such quantities as to suggest the idea that 
half a dozen axe-men had been at work there for the 
whole morning.” 
The same author relates the following amusing ac- 
count of one of these birds which he had captured 
in a wounded condition, and carried with him for 
some distance. “ 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, N. C. In 
passing through the streets, its affecting cries sur- 
prised every one within hearing, particularly the 
females, who hurried to the doors and windows with 
looks of alarm and anxiety. I drove on, and on ar- 
riving 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 in- 
creased 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 
12 * 
