230 



BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



the wing, and remains very inconsiderable to the middle, then 

 qu ckly expands to a great rounded spot. The extent of the second 

 band is everywhere much more limited than in leucoptera. 



"This is decidedly not a melanism, as is shown, not alone by the 

 character of the coloration, but by the occurrence of two old males 

 exactly alike. 



"My two birds came from North America." 



The same general remarks found under Loxia americana will apply 

 equally well to the present species. The White-winged Crossbill is, 

 however, decidedly a more northern bird so far as its summer 

 habitat is concerned, breeding abundantly in the subarctic portions 

 of the continent from northern Labrador and the western shores of 

 Cumberland Gulf to Alaska, or quite to the northward of the breed- 

 ing range of L. americana. 



Mr. Thos. H. Douglas, of Wankegan, sends me, under date of 

 November 17, 1883, the following exceedingly interesting note on 

 this species : 



"Last winter we were visited by several flocks of Loxia leucoptera 

 and a few of L. americana. The former were in a stained condition 

 of plumage. They stayed around piles of pine and spruce cones we 

 had gotten the seeds out of. They carne about the first of February, 

 and some stayed as late as April 1. One of the americana and two 

 leucoptera were here until the latter part of April. Although these 

 two species got along well together when out of doors (would pick 

 seeds out of the same cone), when in captivity (as we had them 

 several times) the former would not let the latter feed, and killed 

 some by picking them on the head. They were very easily caught. 

 We captured several with our hands, and a great many in a com- 

 mon flour-sieve fastened to a pole about six feet long. They would 

 eat out of our hands in a few minutes after being caught. A num- 

 ber were kept in confinement here. I have four three males and 

 one female. I think there are several more in town. Both sexes 

 sing (the female in a lower voice) in a low and sweet but discon- 

 nected tone. Since moulting, the males have had an olive-green 

 plumage, without any show of red." 



January 2, 1884, he writes me as follows: 



"My crossbills are stall alive and flourishing, I will try and mate 

 them the coming spring. I have three males and one female. The 

 latter got out of the cage while it was hanging out of doors in the 



