THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN. 
75 
in north Jefferson County. During the past ten or fifteen 
years not a specimen has been taken and hairy woodpeckers 
collected in winter and late fall in northern Wisconsin have 
all proved to be typical villosus. More information regarding 
its recent occurrence and distribution in Wisconsin is desir- 
able. To be looked for in severe winters along our northern 
border, especially. The hoary whiteness is a more pro- 
nounced character even than the larger size. 
Dryobates pubescens medianns (Swains.). DOWNY WOOD- 
PECKER. 
Resident. Common at all seasons, but more plenty in 
summer than in winter, in this respect the opposite of villosus. 
Fully as common as thirty years ago. Competent observers, 
as Grundtvig, in his "Birds of Shiocton," speak of this species 
nesting at heights of thirty feet or more. This is decidedly at 
variance with the habits of the bird in southern Wisconsin, 
where it is a common nesting species, the nest being rarely 
more than ten or twelve feet, often only four to six, and in one 
instance just twenty-six inches above the ground. 
Picoides arcticus ((Swains.). ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOOD- 
PECKER. 
Common in the pine regions of the state during late fall and 
winter. Before the growth of heavy tamarack was cut in the 
many swamps of portions of southern Wisconsin it was abund- 
ant in such localities as far south as Fort Atkinson in winter. 
Rarely taken in other timber than pine or tamarack, and of 
late years it seldom visits southern Wisconsin. This species 
undoubtedly breeds in the northern part of the state, as there 
are several records of specimens taken during summer months. 
We have seen it at Merrill and near Wausau in June, and near 
Oconto (several specimens) in earlv Augusr. Thirty to forty 
years ago it impressed one as being almost gregarious, such 
large numbers were found in a very small area of dead 
tamarack. These trees seem to contain insect (arvae of which 
the birds are particularly fond. 
Picoides americanas Brehm. AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOOD- 
PECKER. 
Rare winter visitant. Records of this woodpecker for 
Wisconsin are very few. From 1860 to 1870 several speci- 
mens, about a dozen all told, were taken by Thure and L. 
Kumlien in the large tamarack wood near Jefferson. Dr. H. 
