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TIIE ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. 
Picus arcticus, Swains. 
PLATE CCLXVIII. — Males and Female. 
This curious species of Woodpecker is found in the northern parts of tho 
State of Massachusetts, aud in all portions of Maine that are covered by- 
forests of tall trees, in which it constantly resides. I saw a few in the 
Great Pine Forest of Pennsylvania, and my friend, the Rev. John Bach- 
man, observed four near the Falls of Niagara, about twelve years ago, and is 
of opinion that some may breed in the upper partof the State of New York-. 
It is a restless, active bird, spending its time generally on the topmost 
branches of the tallest trees, without, however, confining itself to pines. 
Although it cannot be called shy, its habitual restlessness renders it difficult 
of approach. Its movements resemble those of the Red-cockaded Wood-, 
pecker, but it is still more petulant than that bird. Like it, it will alight, 
climb along a branch, seek for insects there, and in a very few moments 
remove to another part of the same tree, or to another tree at more or less 
distance, thus spending the day in rambling over a large extent of ground. 
Its cries also somewhat resemble those of the species above mentioned, but 
are louder and more shrill, like those of some small quadruped suffering 
great pain. During the middle hours of the day it becomes silent, and often 
retires to some concealed place to rest awhile. In the afternoon of warm 
days, it very frequently makes sorties after flying insects, which it seems to 
secure in the air with as much ease as the Red-headed Woodpecker. Besides 
insects, it also feeds on berries and other small fruits. 
Its flight is rapid, gliding, and deeply undulated, as it shifts from one 
place to another. Now and then it will fly from a detached tree of a field 
to a considerable distance before it alights, emitting at every glide a loud 
shrill note. When alighted, the rolling tappings of its bill against a dead 
and dried branch are as sonorous as those of the Redhead. I never saw one 
on the ground, but I have not unfrequently met with them searching the 
decayed wood of a prostrate tree. 
The nest of this species is generally bored in the body of a sound tree, 
near its first large branches. I observed no particular choice as to the 
timber, having seen it in oaks, pines, &c. The nest, like that of other allied 
species, is worked out by both sexes, and takes fully a week before it is 
