272 Bird -Lore 



trees containing nests full of young birds. We refused to believe the story unless 

 we saw the ' \oung birds ' with our own e\es. 



"At one of the camps we found a man who told us that he would endeavor 

 to find a nest that he had thrown aside a few da\s before which contained three 

 young birds. He was away for a short time and returned with one of the young. 

 It was onl)- partiall}- fledged and had been hatched, I should say, about ten days 

 previously. The \oung bird was not a Pine Grosbeak, but a Crossbill, of which 

 there were thousands all over that section of the country. The cock, birds were 

 in their courting dress — little balls of scarlet — and singing all da\- as in early 

 June. The nests are made of moss, aljout the size of a football, walls about two 

 inches thick and a small hole for the happy pair to enter their snug little home. 

 •'Sincerely yours^ ^ j^^^. ^^ Lotbiniere." 



Of the White-winged Cn,ssbill Dr. Coues writes : "The Crossbills of both species 

 are birds of the most strongl\- marked originalitv of character, and it is never 

 safe to predict what the\- ma\- or ma\- not 1je found about. Their most remarka- 

 ble habit is that of breeding in winter, or very early in the spring, when one would 

 think it impossible that their callow young could endure the rigors of the season. 

 They are the most devoted parents, seeming entirely insensible of danger in 

 defence of their homes; and at all times, indeed, betray a confidence in man 

 that is too often misplaced, and that seems the height of folly to one who knows 

 as much of human nature as most people find out, sooner or later, to their cost. 



"These birds are much attached to pine woods, the seeds of the conifers 

 furnishing them abundant food, of a kind that their curiously shaped bills enable 

 them to secure with great ease and address. From their summer resorts in the 

 depth of evergreen woods the Crossbills come, flocking in the fall, to all other 

 parts of New England and beyond, generally associated with Pine Grosbeaks 

 and Redpolls, always gentle, unsuspicious, and apparently quite at their ease. 



"They are not so common, however, as the Red Crossbills are, and both 

 species take such freaks in deciding their course of action that their appearance 

 can never be relied upon. 



"It need surprise no one to come upon a pair of Crossbills breeding any- 

 where in New England; . . . for thev seem to be quite independent of 

 weather or season. 



"Their diet is not so exclusive as many suppose; the birds may sometimes 

 be seen helping themselves to decayed garden fruits. Mr. May- 

 Food nard has observed them feeding on the seeds of beach-grass, 

 and has also found the stomach filled with canker-worms. . . . 

 The eggs of this species resemble those of the Purple Finch, and are prol)abl\ 

 indistinguishable from those of the Red Crossbill. Both species of Crossbills 

 have a chattering or rattling note, usually uttered as they fly, but their true 

 song is seldom heard south of their nesting grcmnds." (Stearns and Coues, New 

 England Bird Life.) 



