40 
PICUS TRIDACTYLUS. 
assumes the present plumage, and we rather incline 1* 
the opinion that it is an accidental variety. 
Vieillot’s figure represents the young before the fir* 1 
moult, when, like our anomalous specimen, they ha ff 
no red on the crown, differing, however, in not havi' 1 ; 
the head of a glossy black, but of a dull yellowish gra/ 1 
and the patch on the breast also of a dull gray tint. 
6. FICUS TRIDACTTLUS, LINSX5U8. 
NORTHERN THREE TOED WOODPECKER. 
BONAPARTE, PLATE XIV. FIG. II. 
This species is one of those which, from the' 1 
habitation being in the extreme north, have a wi^ 1 
range round the globe. It is in fact met with tlirougho' 1 * 
northern Asia and Europe, from Kamtsehatka to t 
most eastern coasts of the old continent ; and in Amcri^ 
is very common at Hudson’s Bay, Severn River, I ,|} ^ 
William on Lake Superior, and throughout the norti*' 
west, in hilly and wooded tracts. In the United 
it is only a rare and occasional winter visitant, ncr (l 
having been received by us, except from the northed 
territory ol the State of Maine. The species, contrafi 
to what is observed of most other arctic birds, does nf 
appear to extend so far south comparatively as in Eurojjf 
though it is not improbable that on this continent? 
may also inhabit some unexplored mountainous district 1 
resembling the wild regions where only it is found ' f 
Europe. In both continents, the species affects del 
forests among mountains, the hilly countries of northed 
Asia and Europe, and the very lofty chains of centw 
Europe, whose elevation compensates for their miff* 
southern latitude. It is exceedingly common in Sibcri* 
is abundant in Norway, Lapland, and Dalecarlia, amo«f 
the gorges of Switzerland and the Tyrol, especially >* 
forests of pines. It is not uncommon in the Canton l ' 
Berne, in the forests near Interlaken, though very rid* 
in Germany, and the more temperate parts of Europe 
It is well known even to breed in Switzerland, a' 1 " 
