The Evening Star

May 1, 1926

“Trials of an Ornithologist”

The early American ornithologist, Alexander Wilson, while hunting near Wilmington, N.C., discovered an Ivory-billed woodpecker, one of the largest of all woodpeckers and one which is now extinct in that State and exceedingly rare anywhere outside the tropics. He captured it and kept it under a blanket. It emitted terrified shrieks, precisely like the screams of a child being hurt, so that every one stared at him, and the landlord of the hotel doubted whether to admit him. Wilson put the bird up in the room and was gone an hour. When he came back the woodpecker had knocked away the plaster and lath from the wall in a hole as big as a man’s fist and had all but pecked his way to freedom. Wilson then tied him to a mahogany table and went out. When he came back the woodpecker had dug up the polished surface of the table as far about him as he could reach. In three days the bird died of self-imposed starvation, and Wilson had to pay the hotel for the damage done.

Now what do you know about that?

 “Historic Cryptid Headlines” showcases actual articles involving cryptids that were published within United States newspapers back in the 1800’s-1900’s. The articles posted here are written exactly as they appeared during their original publishing date.

-The Pine Barrens Institute