320 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



more than other species (unless the next).- They lead an 

 active life, and, like others of their tribe, are restless. They 

 partly examine the trunk perhaps of a fine hemlock more than 

 a hundred feet high, and then, as if dissatisfied, fly down to 

 hop about a fallen log. They may occasionally vary this life 

 by fly-catching, and in autumn undoubtedly feed on berries, in 

 spite of the inexhaustible insect-wealth of the forests in which 

 they live. They fly in undulations, but rather rapidly, often 

 screaming as they do so. 



(d). Their loud, shrill notes cannot easily be described. 

 Audubon considered them " like those of some small quadru- 

 ped suffering great pain ;" but I have never heard the " shrill, 

 harsh, rattling cry " which Dr. Cooper ascribes to this species. 

 Authors must, however, necessarily differ in their descriptions 

 of what it is nearly impossible to describe satisfactorily. 



(B) AMERICANUS. Banded Three-toed Woodpecker. 



(Much rarer in New England than the last species.) 



(a). Essentially like the Black-backed Woodpecker (A), 

 but with the back banded by white. 



(6). "The nest and eggs do not differ from those of P. Arc- 

 ticus." 



(c). The Banded Three-toed Woodpeckers have an Arctic 

 (or circumpolar) distribution, and in New England are rarer 

 than even the Black-backed Woodpeckers. They have not 

 been captured in Massachusetts, except in a few isolated in- 

 stances, of which I find only one recorded. They probably 

 breed in northern New England to a limited extent, since 

 "Mr. Brewster took two adult males at Gorham, July 30th, 

 1870, and one at Umbagog the first week in June, 1871." Mr. 

 Maynard says: "I took a single specimen at Errol, October 

 31st, 1869. This species has a harsh, discordant note." Au- 

 dubon never saw these woodpeckers, and drew his figures from 

 specimens lent him by the Council of the Zoological Society 

 of London. I have scarcel} r been more fortunate, having seen 

 but one. This was on the roadside, not far from the Glen 

 House in the White Mountains, and in August. During the 



