Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 571 



our native insectivorous birds, and lias proved itself a most undesir- 

 able addition to our avifauna. 



The nest is a mass of loose grass, leaves, or almost any soft sub- 

 stance easily procured. It builds anywhere, but usually about build- 

 ings. The eggs are variable, but the majority are dull white with 

 scattered markings of olive brown (occasionally nearly pure white 

 and again thickly blotched with dark brown). They number from 

 4 to 7, and measure about .84 x .62 inches. They are very prolific, 

 the breeding season lasting from February until September or Octo- 

 ber and several broods are raised in a year. 



The European Tree Sparrow, Passer uioiitanns, is not uncommon 

 ii the vicinity of St. Louis, Mo., where it was introduced in 1870. 

 It has increased in its numbers and according to Mr. Otto Widmann: 

 " It has left the thickly settled parts of St. Louis; but is found scatter- 

 ingly throughout the outskirts and suburbs, spreading to neighboring 

 cities." (Birds of Missouri, 1907, p. 172.) It is probable that it will 

 be observed in Illinois in the near future. 



Genus LOXIA Linn. 



238. Loxia curvirostra minor (Brehm). 



American Crossbill. Red Crossbill. 



Distr.: Northern North America, in coniferous forests. Breeds 

 from northern Michigan and northern Wisconsin northward. In the 

 Eastern states has been found breeding- as far south as Tennessee and 

 the Alleghanies; ranges in winter south to Louisiana and South Caro- 

 lina, and on the Pacific coast to Lower California. 



Adult male: Mandibles, crossed; general plumage, red, brightest 

 on head and rump ; feathers of the back, more or less faintly marked 

 with dusky olive; wings and tail, dark brown. 



Adult female : Mandibles, crossed; upper plumage, greenish olive, 

 mixed with grayish and dusky, becoming clear olive yellow on the 

 rump; under parts, gray, more or less washed with yellowish olive. 



Immature males show various mixed plumages of red and green 

 during the change to the adult stage. 



Length, 6; wing, 3.48; tail, 2.50; bill, .60 (length of bill very 

 variable). 



The Red Crossbill is a regular, but by no means, common winter 

 visitant in Illinois and a common winter resident in Wisconsin. Ac- 

 cording to Kumlien and Hollister it breeds irregularly in the northern 

 part of the state. Mr. John F. Ferry obtained young birds not long 



