PICID^ — THE WOODPECKERS. 531 



Habits. This species has a well-defined and extended distribution, from 

 the Pacific to the Atlantic, and from the northern portions of the United 

 States to the extreme Arctic regions. In the United States it has been found 

 as far south as Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio, but rarely ; and, so far as 

 I am aware, it is a winter visitant only to any but the extreme northern por- 

 tions of the Union, except along the line of the liocky Mountains and the 

 Sierra Nevada. Audubon says it occurs in Northern Massachusetts, and in 

 all portions of Maine that are covered by forests of tall trees, where it con- 

 stantly resides. He saw a few in the Great Pine Forest of Pennsylvania, 

 and Dr. Bachman noticed several in the neigliborhood of Niagara Falls, 

 and was of the opinion that it breeds in the northern part of New York. 

 The same writer describes the nesting-place of the Arctic AVoodpecker as 

 generally bored in the body of a sound tree, near its first large branches. 

 He observed no particular choice as to the timber, having seen it in oaks, 

 pines, etc. The nest, like that of most of this family, is w^orked out by both 

 sexes, and requires fully a week for its completion. Its usual depth is 

 from twenty to twenty-four inches. It is smooth and broad at the bottom, 

 although so narrow at its entrance as to appear scarcely sufficient to enable 

 one of the birds to enter it. The eggs are from four to six, ratlier rounded 

 and pure white. Only one brood is raised in tlie season. Tlie young follow 

 their parents until the autumn. In the southern districts where these 

 Woodpeckers are found, their numbers are greatly increased in the winter 

 by accessions from the North. 



Dr. Cooper found this species quite numerous, in September, in the vicinity 

 of Lake Tahoe and the summits of the Sierra Nevada, above an altitude of 

 six thousand feet. From thence this bird has a northern range chiefly on 

 the east side of these mountains and of the Cascade Eange. None were 

 seen near the Lower Columbia. At the lake they were quite fearless, com- 

 ing close to the hotel, and industriously rapping the trees in the evening and 

 in the early morning. Farther north Dr. Cooper found them very wild, 

 owing probably to their having been hunted by the Indians for their skins, 

 which they consider very valuable. He noticed their burrows in low pine- 

 trees near the lake, where he had no doubt they also raise their young. Dr. 

 Cooper has always found them very silent V)irds, tliough in the spring they 

 probably have more variety of calls. The only note he lieard was a shrill, 

 harsh, rattling cry, quite distinct from that of any other Woodpecker. 



The flight of this Woodpecker is described as rapid, gliding, and greatly 

 undulated. Occasionally it will fly to quite a distance before it alights, 

 uttering, from time to time, a loud shrill note. 



Professor Verrill says this bird is very common in Western Maine, in 

 the spring, fall, and winter, or from the middle of October to the middle or 

 end of March. It is not known to occur there in the summer. Near Calais 

 a few are seen, and it is supposed to breed, but is not common. In Massa- 

 chusetts it is only a rare and accidental visitant, occurring usually late in 



