PASSERES FRINGILLIDAE LEUCOSTICTE AUSTEALIS. 



249 



the former bird. The second specimen, a young bird, though in the streaked 

 plumage peculiar to the first stage (taken September 7), has the still unde- 

 veloped bill conspicuously larger than in the typical americana. It seems 

 probable, then, that the Mexican variety follows the mountain ranges north- 

 ward, and breeds at least as far north as extreme Southern Colorado. 



During the latter part of September, the Mexican Crossbill was seen in 

 considerable numbers among the pines and other coniferous trees of the 

 Mount Graham range. They flew about from tree top to tree top in small 

 flocks of from five to fifteen, and were always busily engaged in cutting 

 open with their powerful scissor like bills the pine seeds, their favorite diet. 

 In habits and notes, they do not differ from the common Red Crossbill. 



Var. americana. 



Var. mexicana. 



LEUCOSTICTE AUSTRALIS, Allen. 

 Allen's Brown-capped Finch. 



PLATES V & VI. 

 Leucosticte tephrocotis var. austratts, ALLEN, MSS. RIDG., Bull. Essex. lust., v, 1873, 



182, 189, 190. BD., BREW., & EIDG., N. A. Birds, iii, 1874, 509. 

 Leucosticte amtralis, KIDG., Bull. Geol. Surv. Terr., No. 1', L'd ser. 187f>,79(mouograpbic). 



The following interesting notes are given by Dr. Rothrock, who found 

 the species very abundant in the mountains back of Fairplay in the South 

 Park, and also at Mounts Harvard, Evans, Red Mountains, and elsewhere: 



