WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. 38 1 



WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. 



LOXU LEUCOPTERA. 



Char. Bill long and compressed, mandibles curved at the points, 

 which cross or overlap. Male: dull rosy, clouded with dull dark brown 

 on the back ; wings and tail black ; two broad white bars on the wings ; 

 belly dull white streaked with brown. Female : dull olive, paler beneath;, 

 rump buffy. Young: similar to female, but paler olive above, and more 

 decided yellow beneath, streaked everywhere with dark brown. As the 

 young mature they are subject to considerable variation. Length about 

 6 to 6% inches. 



NesL In the deep forest, on an evergreen, amid the denser foliage 

 near the centre of the tree ; made of twigs and strips of birch bark, cov- 

 ered with moss {usnea), and lined with soft moss and hair. 



Eggs. 3-?; pale blue, spotted and streaked near larger end with red- 

 dish brown and lilac; 0.80 X 0.55. 



This beautiful and well-distinguished species inhabits the 

 northern regions of the American continent only, whence, 

 at irregular intervals, on the approach of winter, it arrives in 

 the Northern and Middle States, and, as usual with the rest of 

 this curious family, seeks out the pine and hemlock-spruce 

 forests. Its visits to this State [Massachusetts] are very 

 irregular. About two years ago, large, gregarious, famished 

 flocks were seen near Newburyport and other neighboring 

 towns in the vicinity of the sea-coast, at which time many 

 were caught, killed, and caged. The habits of this bird are 

 almost entirely similar to those of the preceding species. Its 

 song is said to be mellow and agreeable, and in captivity it 

 becomes gentle and familiar. 



According to Mr. Hutchins, it arrives around Hudson Bay 

 in March, and in May builds a nest of grass, mud, and feath- 

 ers, fixed generally al^out half way up a pine-tree, and lays 5 

 white eggs marked with yellowish spots. The young fly about 

 the end of June. It remains in this country till the close of 

 November, after which it retires, probably to the South ; and 

 Wilson's bird was obtained in the Great Pine Swamp or forest 

 of the Pokono (Pennsylvania), in the month of September, 

 so that it may be possible that some few pairs breed in this 

 situation. 



