th 8 inches, and is a
lustrous greenish above, variously speckled with white, and is white
below, spotted with greenish. It is a common and resident species in
southern Texas, where it lays its eggs in holes in the banks along
streams. The eggs are white and glossy, and measure .95 x .70.

WOODPECKERS. Order XV. PICI.

Family PICIDAE

Woodpeckers are well known birds having sharp chisel-like bills, sharply
pointed and stiffened tail feathers, and strongly clawed feet with two
toes forward and two back, except in one genus. Their food is insects
and grubs, which they get by boring in trees, and from under the bark,
clinging to the sides of trunks or the under side of branches with their
strong curved nails, aided by the tail, for a prop. They are largely
resident where found.

392. IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER. _Campephilus principalis._

Range.--Locally distributed, and rare, in Florida, along the Gulf coast
and north casually to South Carolina and Arkansas.

This is the largest of the Woodpeckers found within our borders, being
20 inches in length. But one other American species exceeds it in size,
the Imperial Woodpecker of Mexico, which reaches a length of nearly two
feet; as this species is found within a few miles of our Mexican border,
it may yet be classed as a North American bird. The present species has
a large, heavy, ivory-white bill. They can readily be identified, at a
great distance, from the Pileated Woodpecker by the large amount of
white on the secondaries. They used to be not uncommonly seen in many
sections of the southeast but are now found very locally and only in the
largest and remote woods. They nest in holes in large trees in the most
impenetrable swamps; laying three, and probably as many as six pure
white glossy eggs measuring 1.45 x 1.00.

[Illustration 251: Texas Kingfisher.]
[Illustration: Ivory-billed Woodpecker.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 250

393. HAIRY WOODPECKER. _Dryobates villosus villosus._

Range.--United States east of the Plains and from North Carolina to
Canada.

The Hairy Woodpecker or its sub-species is found in all parts of North
America. The nesting habits and eggs of all the sub-species are not in
any way different from those of the eastern bird, consequently what is
said in regard to the eastern form will apply equally to all its
varieties.

Except during the winter months, this species is not as commonly seen
about houses or orchards as the