ONTARIO. 



Hab. Northern and Eastern North America, from Britisli Columbia 

 and the eastern edge of the Plains northward and eastward, 



Nest, a hole in a tree. 



Eggs, 5 to 6 ; pure white. 



A miniature of the preceding species which it resembles in 

 habits as well as in appearance, although it is of a more 

 sociable disposition, often being found in winter in company 

 with the Chicadees and Brown Creepers. It is also an 

 occasional visitor to the orchard, where it goes over the apple 

 trees carefully, examining all injured or decayed parts in search 

 of insects. 



It is commonly known as the little Sapsucker, but the name 

 is incorrectly applied, for any holes drilled by this species are 

 made while it is in search of insects, those which allow the sap 

 of the tree to exude being the work of the Yellow-bellied Wood- 

 pecker. 



Like its big brother, the Downy Woodpecker is a resident 

 species, but more plentiful in spring and fall than in summer, 

 the -numbers being increased at those seasons by passing 

 migrrants. 



Genus PICOIDES Lacepede. 



163. PicoiDES ARCTICUS (Swains.). 400. 



Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker 



Crown with a yellow patch in the male. Back uniform black, sides of 

 head striped, of body barred with black and white ; quills with white spots ; 

 tail feathers unbarred, the outer white, -the central black. Length, S-g ; 

 wing, 4A-5 ; tail, 3J-4. 



Hab. Northern North America, from the arctic regions south to the 

 northern border of the United States ; much furtiier south in the western 

 part of the United States (Nevada, California), .along the mountain ranges. 



Nesting, habits and eggs, so far as known, similar to those of other 

 Woodpeckers. 



This is a truly northern bird, seldom, even in winter, coming 

 as far south as the southern border of Ontario. In November, 

 1859, I killed one on a pine tree on the south shore of Dundas 



165 



