New Iberia Enterprise

September 16, 1905

“Dear Birds”

The whole machinery of the federal government is being brought into play in an effort to convict a couple of men down in Florida for shooting two birds. The cost of securing conviction will be enormous, for witnesses are being brought hundreds of miles to testify. But the moral involved is deemed of enough importance to warrant the expenditure. The men who are so relentlessly prosecuted are accused of having killed a few ivory-billed woodpeckers. This species is the largest of the American woodpeckers and possessed a huge white bill from which it takes its name. The birds used to be abundant all along the Atlantic coast, from Maine to Florida, but are of such a conspicuous mark that they have been almost exterminated. They are so scarce now that they will bring five dollars each in the market. It is against the law to shoot the ivory-billed woodpecker in Florida. But despite the statue a couple of lawbreakers went out in the fields of the state a few weeks ago and killed more than a score of the beautiful birds. They sold them to collectors who prefer stuffed to natural birds. When the wholesale slaughter became noised about great indignation was aroused. The men were arrested and brought into court. Doubt aroused as to how many birds had been killed, and also regarding the species. Those interested in the prosecution have telegraphed for an ornithologist from the department of agriculture, and also for an expert in Maine, to go to Florida and testify. There is much conjecture over the outcome of the case.

“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