FINCHES 



seaweed. At such times they are very tame 

 and may be studied easily. 



Crossbills are always hard to see in the 

 tree tops, they blend so well with the foliage 

 and cones upon which they feed. Through a 

 pair of powerful glasses one can see them 

 clinging to the cones while extracting the 

 seeds, many hanging downwards like chicka- 

 dees, and if one is near enough their plaintive 

 conversation can be heard. 



The nest of the crossbill is placed in some 

 conifer from twenty to one hundred feet from 

 the ground. The twigs which form the 

 foundation are pulled from the trees rather 

 than picked up from the ground, as with 

 most birds. The nest is a rather flat structure, 

 lined with rootlets, strips of bark and hair or 

 other soft substances. 



The call note of the crossbill is a metallic 

 kimp, kimp, kimp. 



533 



Pine siskin, Spinus pinus. 4.50 



Distribution : North America at large, 

 breeding northerl}^ in most of its range. Mov- 

 ing about in flocks in the winter in most of 

 the United States. Abundant and resident in 

 the coniferous forests of the Pacific Coast 

 states. 



The pine siskin is common in the Pacific 

 87 



