Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-12-29

The body ofthe tree is also dis6gured
with such numerous and So long exca-
vations, thar one can hardly conceive
it possible FOR the whole 20 be the work
of Woodpecker. With such strength.
and apparatus SO powe, fui, what havoc
might ne not commit, If numerous, ON
the most useful OF our forest trees: and
yet, with all these appearances, and
much vulg prejudice against him. it
may fairly be questioned whether be
is at all injurious, or at least, whether
his eXertlons 90 not contribute mos,
powerfully to the protection ofour tim
Der. Examine closely the tree where
he hath been at work, and you will soon
perceive that 1t is neither from mot;vos
of mischief or amusement, that he 81;
ces oil the tal 81 digs his way into ths
trunk--tor the sound and healthy trss
is not the object OF his attention. The
diseased, infested with insects. and
Fastening to putreiaction, are his f.
vourites; there the deadly crawlino en-.
envy have formed iodgment, between
the bark and tender wood, to drink m
the very vital part OF, the tree. Il Is
the ravages OF these vermin which tina
intelligent proprietor OF the forest de.
piores as the sole perpetrators, of the
destruction OF his timber. Would il
be believed that the larvae Of an insact
OF ny, no longer thai a grain oil rice
snouia silently, and in one season de.'
troy some thousands acres of nine
trees, many OF them from two to threa
tee. Ii dlamcter, and hundred and nf.
ty lee. high? Yet, whoever passe.
aiong the hlsh road from Georsetwon
ana Charleston, III south Carolina a.
bout twenty miles from the former place
can nave stclSlnS and melancholy
proofs oi this TACT. In some places. the
whole woods, as far as you can see q.
round you, are dead, stripped Of their
bars, tnelr wintry Ioonins arms and
bare trunks bleaching III lne sun. and
tuning III runs before every blast. ore.
sentins a lrIghtTui picture Of oesolatiop.
In looking over lhe accounts given of
the IVORY BILLED wOoDPlCKEK py tha
naturailts o. Europe, nnd II asserted
that 1t iEnabils from New JERSEY to
Mexico. believe, however, That lew
OF them are ever seen III the north of
Virginia, anu very Few VI them even in
that state. Ine urst place | observed
this Dlrd at, wheh Oh my journey south.
was abou; II miles north OF W ilmlnp.
ton In North Carolina. There found
the bird from which the drawing OF the
Inquire i'll the plate was taxen. Tnis
blra was only wounded slightly In tue
wing; and ON being caught, uttered q
loudly reiterated and most pileous note,
exactly resembling the violent CRYING
ola young child which terrified nv
horse, so as nearly to have cost me nv
life. 1t was distressing to hear it. I
carried 1t with me in the chair, uador
cover, to Wilmington, In passing thro'
the streets, its affecting cries, surprised
every one within hearing, particularly
the females, who hurried to the doors
and windows with LOOKS of alarm and
anxiety.
| drove on; and on arriving at the
piazza of the hotel, where | intended
to put up, the landlord came forward,
and number Of other persons who
happened to be there, all equally alarm
ed at what they heard; this was greatly
Increased by my asking, whether he
could furnish me with accommodations
for myself and baby. The man looked
blank and foolish, while the others
started with still greater establishment
After diverting myself for a minute or
two at their expense, drew my Wood
pecker from under the cover, and
general laugh took place. l took him
up stairs, and locked him up in my
room, while went to see my horse
taken care of. In less than an hour /
returned, and opening the door, he set
up the same distressing shout, which
now appeared to proceed from grief,
that he had been discovered in his at
tempt to escape. He had mounted a.
long the side Of the window, nearly as
high as the ceiling, little below which
he had begun to break through. The
bed was covered with large pieces of
plaster, the lath was exposed for at
least Is inches square. and hole large
enough to admit the fist, opened to the
weather boards, SO that in less than an
hour, he would certainly nave succeeded
in making his way through. now
tied string round his Lee, and fastened
it to the table and again left him. I
wished to preserve his lite, and had gone
off in search Of suitable food for him.
As re-ascended the stairs, heard