PICIDiE. 313 



[105.] b\ Picus (Apternus) arcticus. (Swainson.) Arctic Three-toed 



Woodpecker. 



Genus, Picus, Linn. Sub-genus, Apternus, Swains. 



Picus tridactylus. Bonap. Orn., i., p. 64, pi. 14, f. 2; the male. 



Ch. Sp. Picus (Apternus) arcticus, super aterrimus nitidus: remigibus solis maculatis, subtus albus, axillis hypo- 



chondriisque transverse nigro fasciatis, vertice saturate croceo. 

 Sp. Ch. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker, above glossy black, with white spots on the quills only ; beneath 



white ; sides of the body lineated with black ; crown saffron-yellow. 



Plate lvii. 



This is in every respect a larger species than the preceding- : the bill is consi- 

 derably longer in proportion, and at the same time not so much depressed ; the 

 wings also are more pointed, since the sixth quill, which in the former is nearly 

 as long as the third, fourth, and fifth, is in this fully three-tenths of an inch 

 shorter. It was observed only on the eastern declivity of the Rocky Mountains, 

 where the common species was also procured. — Sw. 



DESCRIPTION 



Of a male, killed near the sources of the Athabasca River, lat. 57°. 



Colour. — Dorsal aspect throughout shining velvet-black, with a Prussian-blue reflexion 

 from the head, and a greenish one from the back. Crown bright saffron-yellow, approaching 

 to Dutch-orange *. Five rows of white spots on the greater quills, nearly obsolete on the 

 posterior lesser ones : none of the quills are tipped with white. A stripe from the rictus to 

 the side of the neck and the under plumage white, thickly barred with black on the sides of 

 the breast and belly. Tail similar to that of P. tridactylus. Colour of the bill and legs 

 also as in that species. The female wants the yellow crown, and her bill is rather shorter than 

 that of the male. — R. 



Form, typical. Bill less wide, and consequently stronger, than in the preceding species. 

 The hind toe is completely versatile, since, in one of the specimens, it has been placed 

 forward, and is so perfectly on a level with the others, that it would seem incapable of any 

 other position. None of the quills are emarginate on their tips. — Sw. 









Dimensions 



















Of the male. 













Length, total 

 ,, of tail 

 „ of wing 

 ,, of bill above 



Inch. 



10 



. 3 



. 5 



. 1 



Lin. 

 6 

 8 

 

 6 



Length of bill to rictus 

 „ of tarsus . 

 ,, of middle toe . 



Inch. 

 . 1 

 

 . 



Lin. 



6 



11 



Length of middle nail 

 ,, of hind toe . 

 ,, of its nail 



Inch. 

 . 

 . 

 . 



Lin. 



5| 

 5f 



* At the junction of the yellow tips with the black base of the crown feathers there is a white speck, but it is not 

 nearly so large and conspicuous as in P. tridactylus. The specks exist in the crests of other Woodpeckers. — R. 



2 S 



