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Range (Breeds from the Northern)

Breeds from the Northern States northward, and, in the Alleghanies, southward to the Carolinas; in winter wanders irregularly southward, sometimes reaching the Gulf States.

Washington, irregular W. V., sometimes abundant. Sing Sing, irregular; noted in almost every month. Cambridge, of irregular occurrence at all seasons.

Nest, of twigs and grasses, lined with bits of moss and rootlets, in coniferous trees, fifteen to thirty feet up. Eggs, three to four, "pale greenish, spotted and dotted about the larger end with various shades of brown and lavender shell-markings, 1.75 x 57."

These parrotlike Finches are famous for their erratic wanderings. They seem to have no regard for the laws of migration which regulate the journeys of most birds, and, having no home ties, may linger in regions which offer them abundant fare without much regard to season. They nest early in the spring, sometimes when they are far south of their breeding range, but they seem quite unconcerned by their unusual surroundings, and their young are born and raised in a foreign land.

Coniferous forests form their natural surroundings, and their bills are especially adapted to aid them in forcing off the scales from the cones of these trees to obtain the seed within.

They live in flocks, and when in the trees climb about like Parrots, sometimes exhibiting as little fear of man as Polly on her pedestal. When feeding, they have a short, whistled call-note; they take wing in a body, and their undulating flight is accompanied by a sharp clicking or whistled note. Their song is described as "varied and pleasing, but not powerful or in any respect remarkable." 522. Loxia leucoptera Gmel. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. Ad. 8. -Tips of the mandibles crossed; body dull pink, brighter on the rump, more FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. or less marked with black on the back; belly whitish; wings and tail black, he greater and middle wing-coverts, and sometimes tertials, tipped with white. Ad.. - Dull olive-green, yellow on the rump, grayer on the under parts, mottled with blackish on the head and back; wings and tail as in the 6. Im. 8. - Similar to 2, but passes through a party-colored plumage while becoming mature, and, as in the preceding species, is subject to much variation. L., 6.05; W., 3-27; T., 2·41; B., 62.