CAMPEPHILUS PRINCIPALIS. 
237 
Woodpecker’s nest. Upon returning to the same tree, a short time after, I started the 
female from her dilapidated nest; in a day or two after this, however, I sent a negro lad 
up into the same tree in order to secure the eggs of a Sparrow Hawk which were placed 
in a natural cavity in a limb, at least sixty feet in air, and when passing the nest of the 
Woodpecker, he looked in but neither of the birds were present nor did I see them in the 
neighborhood, so concluded that they had deserted their home. I have little doubt, how¬ 
ever, but that the birds would have deposited their eggs in that nest, had I taken more 
care in opening the cavity. 
The Pileated Woodpeckers are not at all migratory, being constantly resident, even in 
Northern Maine, although it is highly probable that they wander in the North during win¬ 
ter. In Florida, however, when a pair become attached to any particular locality, they 
seldom, if ever, leave it but spend their entire lives in a limited area. 
GENUS VI. CAMPEPHILUS. THE SCARLET-CRESTED WOODPECKERS. 
Gen. Ch. Sternum, not twice as wide as the height of the keel. Marginal indentations, equal in depth to about one half 
the heigth of the keel; outer, more shallow than inner. Manubrium, very small. Terminal hook of scapula, nearly straight 
on the upper, and rounded on the lower, side. Tongue, provided with a long, extensible sheath, while the cerato-hyals are 
greatly elongated and. extend, around the back of the skull. Proventriculus, quite large. Stomach, not very muscular. Sal¬ 
ivary glands, quite well developed. Both mandibles, straight. Head , crested. 
In members of this genus, the males are marked on the occiput with scarlet. The prevailing color on the body is black, 
relieved by conspicuous markings of white, especially on the wings. The tail feathers are quite acuminate. The hind toe is 
about one half the length of the outer which is projected backward. As in the preceding genus, the head is large and the 
neck long and thin. There is but one species within our limits. 
CAMPEPHILUS PRINCIPALIS. 
Ivory-billed Woodpecker. 
Campephilus principalis Gray, List of Genera; 1840. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, robust. Size, large. Sternum, stout. Tongue, rather thin and horny at the tip which is provided 
with barbs for two thirds of the terminal length. The extensible sheath occupies about one half of the length of the tongue. 
The salivary glands are moderate in size. There are no laryngeal muscles, excepting the sterno-trachealis which is very stout. 
The tympaniform membrane is present and although there is an os transversale, yet it does not support a semilunar mem¬ 
brane. 
Color. Adult male. Uniform glossy black having greenish reflections, with a line from below the ear coverts, running 
down the neck, broadening on the shoulders, and extending along the back, short line at base of bill, not reaching the ,eye, 
exposed portion of primaries gnd basal portion of two or three inner primaries, and under wing coverts, white. Occiput, 
and portion extending forward nearly to the eye, forming a point, and back of upper neck, scarlet. 
Adult female. Similar to the male, but lacks the scarlet on the head which is replaced by black. Iris, yellow, bill, 
ivory-white, feet, greenish, in all stages. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This species may be at once distinguished from all the others which occur within our limits, by the large size, white 
bill and secondaries. They are constantly resident in Florida and are found rarely in the other Gulf States as well as in the 
Carolinas and along the Mississippi Valley to Southern Illinois. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements. Length, 20-35; stretch, 31-00, wing, 9*30; tail, 6-35; bill, 2-75; tarsus, 1-80. Longest speci¬ 
men, 21-00; greatest extent of wing, 32-00; longest wing, 9-60; tail, 6-50; bill, 2 - 80; tarsus, 2'00. Shortest specimen, 19-75; 
smallest extent of wing, 30‘00; shortest wing, 9'00; tail, 6‘25; bill, 2 - 05; tarsus, P60. 
