156 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [June 



birds around them and knocking them off the boughs with a stick, 

 or even the ramrods of their guns. My specimens were obtained 

 for me in this manner. 



Fringillid^e. 



American Pine Grosbealc (Pinicola Canadensis, Briss.') — Com- 

 mon throughout the year, but apparently more abundant in 

 winter, when they get together in small flocks of about two 

 broods. They feed on the huds only of Vinus, Abies, Larix, 

 &c., and are very tame, being often killed with sticks. Pro- 

 vincial name, "Mope." 



Yellow Bird, or Thistle Bird (Chrysomitris tristis, Linn.") — A 

 common summer migrant. 



Pine Pinch (C. pinus, Wilson.) — A summer migrant, but 

 apparently not so common as the preceding species. 



From my short residence in Newfoundland the observations on 

 the distribution of some of the smaller species belonging to the 

 Fringillidce, Sylvicolidce, &c., may not be of much value — e. g.^ 

 it is very probable that some birds, especially of these families, 

 which are not uncommon, and even generally distributed over the 

 island, may have altogether escaped my notice, while, on the 

 other hand, some rare, or otherwise not regular migrants, may 

 have fallen to my gun on more than one occasion during the 

 summers of 1867 and 1868. In such cases I have naturally 

 stated the birds to be frequent, or common, as the evidence may 

 tend to show. 



American Crosshill (Curvirostra Americana, Wilson.) — Com- 

 mon throughout the year, and an early breeder. Feeds on the 

 seeds of Coni/erce, and is called by the settlers the 'Marge spruce 

 bird," to distinguish it from the following species. 



White-winged Crosshill (C. leucoptera, Gmelin.) — These pretty 

 little birds are common throughout the year, but more abundant 

 during winter, when they congregate in small flocks of from five 

 to twenty individuals, feeding principally on the cones of the 

 White Spruce (Ahies alha.) When feeding these birds are 

 usually very tame, and easily approached. I kept an old " Joe 

 Man ton," loaded with small shot, in the house, for the purpose of 

 shooting Crossbills and other small birds, and remember, on one 

 occasion, snapping three percussion caps at a small flock of C 

 leucoptera, within fifteen yards of me, without causing them 

 sufficient alarm to take wing. They have a very pleasing note) 



