INSESSORES : FRINGILLID.E. 



203 



Fig. 119. 



; 



White-winged Crossbill, 

 C. leucoptera, Wils. 



The Red Crossbill, C. americana, Wils., of North Amer- 

 ica, is six inches long, the wing over three and a third 

 inches ; the color dull red, the wings and tail dark 

 blackish-brown. The female is dull greenish-olive, rump 

 and crown bright greenish-yellow ; beneath grayish. 



The White-winged Crossbill, 

 C. Icucoptera, Wils., of North 

 America, is six and a quarter 

 inches long, the wing three and 

 a half inches, and is readily dis- 

 tinguished by the white bands 

 upon the wings. 



The Genus sEgiothus has the 

 bill short and acutely conical, 

 wings long, the second quill 

 somewhat longer than the first 

 and third, and the tail deeply 

 forked ; colors reddish. 



The Lesser Red Poll, AL. linaria, Cab., of North Amer- 

 ica, is five and a half inches long, the wing over three 

 inches ; the color above light yellowish, each feather 

 streaked with dark brown, the crown crimson, upper 

 part of the breast and sides of the body tinged with 

 light crimson ; the most of the remaining under parts 

 white. Audubon says few birds exhibit a more affec- 

 tionate disposition than this; and he enjoyed the pleas- 

 ure of seeing several on a twig feeding each other by 

 passing a seed from bill to bill, and one individual actu- 

 ally receiving food from two of his companions at the 

 same time. 



The Mealy Red Poll, &. canescens, Cab., of Greenland, 

 is six inches long, and is further distinguished from the 

 preceding by its white rump. 



The Genus Leucosticte has the bill obtusely conical, 

 and a conspicuous ridge on the side of the lower man- 

 dible. 



