1 82 NEW- YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



GENUS LOXIA. Linn^us. 



Mandibles crossing each other at the tips. Tongue short, entire and pointed. Palate with 

 three ridges. Tarsus and middle toe subequal. Tail short, emarginate. 



THE AMERICAN CROSSBILL. 



LoXIA AMERICANA.. 

 PLATE LXIII. FIG. 144 (Youno male). 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Curvirostra americana. Wilson, Am. Om. Vol. 4, p. 44, pi. 31, figs. 1 and 2 (young and adult male). 



Loxia id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 117. Audubon, fol. pi. 197. Nut-tall, Man. Om. Vol. 1, 



p. 538. Kiktland, Zool. Ohio, p. 184. Peabody, Zool. Mass. p. 331. 

 L. curvirostra. Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. 3, p. 186, pi. 200. 

 L. americana. Bonaparte, Geographical and Comparative List, p. 38. 

 L. curvirostra. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 130. 



Characteristics. Red. Wings and tail brownish ; the former without bands. Female and 

 young, greenish yellow. Young after moulting, dull reddish, with 

 yellow on the rump and wings. Length, 7 inches. 



Description. Bill compressed towards the tips. Tail about an inch longer than the tips 

 of the closed wings. Tarsus short, compressed, acute behind ; the two lateral toes shortest. 

 Claws compressed, sharp, curved. 



Color. This is described in the specific phrase. The red passes into whitish beneath. 



Length, 6' 5-7-0. Alar spread, 9-5-10'0. 



This may be considered as a northern species, breeding in this State and as far south as 

 Pennsylvania. The eggs are greenish white, thickly covered with brownish spots. It feeds 

 on the cones of the hemlock (Pinus canadensis), and the buds of trees ; also on apples and 

 other fruits, which they break open for the seeds. In some of their habits, and the structure 

 of their feet, they form a passage to the succeeding family. Bonaparte, and the best 

 European ornithologists with him, consider this species as distinct from the common Cross- 

 bill of Europe, with which it has been hitherto confounded. Its geographical range along 

 the Atlantic extends from Pennsylvania to the 57th parallel of north latitude ; in the regions 

 west of the Mississippi, it descends still lower. 



