40 
PICUS TRIDACTYLUS. 
assumes the present plumage, and we rather incline to 
the opinion that it is an accidental variety. 
Vieillot’s figure represents the young before the first 
moult, when, like our anomalous specimen, they have 
no red on the crown, differing, however, in not having 
the head of a glossy black, but of a dull yellowish gray, 
and the patch on the breast also of a dull gray tint. 
6. PICUS TRIDACTYLUS , LINN^US. 
NORTHERN THREE TOED WOODPECKER. 
BONAPARTE, PLATE XIV. FIG. II. 
This species is one of those which, from their 
habitation being in the extreme north, have a wide 
range round the globe. It is in fact met with throughout 
northern Asia and Europe, from Kamtschatka to the 
most eastern coasts of the old continent ; and in America, 
is very common at Hudson’s Bay, Severn River, Fort 
William on Lake Superior, and throughout the north- 
west, in hilly and wooded tracts. In the United States 
it is only a rare and occasional winter visitant, never 
having been received by us, except from the northern 
territory of the State of Maine. The species, contrary 
to what is observed of most other arctic birds, does not 
appear to extend so far south comparatively as in Europe, 
though it is not improbable that on this continent it 
may also inhabit some unexplored mountainous districts 
resembling the wild regions where only it is found in 
Europe. In both continents, the species affects deep 
forests among mountains, the hilly countries of northern 
Asia and Europe, and the very lofty chains of central 
Europe, whose elevation compensates for their more 
southern latitude. It is exceedingly common in Siberia, 
is abundant in Norway, Lapland, and Dalecarlia, among 
the gorges of Switzerland and the Tyrol, especially in 
forests of pines. It is not uncommon in the Canton of 
Berne, in the forests near Interlaken, though very rare 
in Germany, and the more temperate parts of Europe. 
It is well known even to breed in Switzerland, and 
