WESTERN BIRDS CrossbiU 



which are drab babies like the mother, are two weeks 

 old they are cared for by the male while the female lays 

 another set of eggs, usually in the same nest, which is 

 only patched up a little, or sometimes not touched. 

 Year after year I have known these birds to use the same 

 nest, simply adding to it. They are not clean in the 

 care of the young and the nests become quite unsightly 

 at times. 



Slovenly, easy-going citizens they surely are, and yet 

 I believe they add life and beauty to our sunny south- 

 land. 



While condemned as fruit eaters we must not forget 

 that they are, also, seed-eaters and that throughout the 

 winter large flocks of them live in our fields and eat our 

 weed-seeds, thus doing much good. 



GENUS LOXIA: AMERICAN CROSS- 

 BILL. 



American Crossbill: Loxia curvirostra minor. 

 FAMILY— FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



In the Crossbills we have the queerest-looking birds 

 of this large family because of the peculiar crossed bill 

 which has given the birds their name. 



The American Crossbill is about six and one-half 

 inches long with plump body and beautifully colored 

 plumage, being a dull red which is brighter on rump 

 and browner on back with indistinct markings; wings 

 and tail dusky and unmarked. The females are entirely 

 different in color, being olive green, which becomes yel- 

 low on the rump. The head and back have indistinct 

 black mottlings, and there is white mixed in the under 

 plumage. The young are similar to the female, but 

 have red and green markings. The male does not be- 



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