— 6i— 



and announcing their presence by their sharp chirps. Both 

 adult specimens and young of the year were taken, always from 

 the summits of the loftiest trees. 



The American crossbill was regularly noted at Crow Creek 

 and at the foot of Flathead Lake. Like the evening grosbeak, 

 it is partial to the streamsides in the prairie regions, moving 

 restlessly from place to place in troops of small numbers, and 

 chirping merrily from the treetops. 



It is common in the vicinity of the Station, frequenting the 

 tops of the tall trees in small flocks, uttering short, sharp me- 

 tallic chirps. It generally associates with the pine siskin and 

 other frequenters of the upper story of the woods. It is rep- 

 resented more numerously in the fall, and during the latter 

 part of August we found it abundant in the neighborhood of 

 Daphnia Pond and Estey's Pond, moving about capriciously 

 from one treetop to another and chattering its enjoyment in 

 the liberty of its wildwood domain. 



533. PINE SISKIN, Spiniis pinus (Wils.) 



The pine siskin was commonly seen in the tops of the tallest 

 trees, though at Sin-yale-a-min Lake and McDonald Lake it 

 is more generally heard passing overhead, uttering its goldfinch- 

 like call, or chirping vigorouslv to its fellows. It is a social 

 creature, and its familiarity will lead it to alight in the midst 

 of the camp to glean refuse from the tables. The only speci- 

 men taken at Sin-yale-a-min Lake was shot in camp while it 

 was picking up morsels of food near the cooking-tent. 



This animated resident of the higher woodlands was abun- 

 dant near the Station. During our visit in June, the pine 

 siskin was one of the most noticeable birds of the neighbor- 

 hood, flitting in sportive enjoyment among the treetops, and 

 uttering a loud sibilant chirping as it bounded from tree to 

 tree. Frequently specimens visited our camp and alighted at 

 the door of our tent, to glean from the refuse of the table, 

 manifesting all the familiarity of the chipping sparrow. One 

 evening about sunset, while I was exploring the woods on the 

 Helena Club grounds, a nest in the top of a small fir tree 

 caught my attention. Giving the tree a vigorous shake to alarm 

 any occupant of the nest. I was surprised to see a brood or 

 flock of pine siskins, five or six in number, flutter out of the 

 nest and away from the neighborhood, chattering with lively 

 scolding at being thus rudely routed from their home. 



