26 Proceedings of the 



Oassin Purple Finch. It was recorded formerly from Sioux 

 county by J. B. White who failed, however, to corroborate 

 his statements with the evidence of actual specimens. I 

 observed the birds on December 7 and 8 and secured two 

 specimens, both males, on the first mentioned date. With 

 one exception the birds seen were associated with Redpolls. 

 The species is easily recognized in the field by the brighter 

 purplish hue of the crown in contrast to the duller shade of 

 the back. 'The bird's call note seems to be a chirp best 

 represented by the syllables "to-wheat-to-wheat-" uttered 

 in a rather leisurely manner and not particularly pene- 

 trating in quality. 



24. Loxia curvirostrcnninor (Brehm) — Crossbill. 



Crossbills were moderately common in the coniferous 

 growth. Five specimens taken December 2, 4, and 10 are 

 referable to this form rather than to L. c. strichlandi, al- 

 though several of them exceed the maximum measurements 

 of minor in one or more particulars. Most of these birds 

 as well as many found in eastern' Neibraska would fit nicely 

 into the diagnosis of L. c. hendirei Ridgway and I should 

 refer them to that subspecies had the A. 0. U. committee 

 seen fit to accept it as distinct. As it is the birds must be 

 called minor although they are not typical. 



25. Loxia curvirostra strichlandi Ridgway — Mexican Crossbill. 



A single female taken December 4 should probably be 

 referred to this form as it has a wing measurement of 94 mm. 

 and culmen of 20 mm. 



26. Leiicosticte teplirocotis Bwainson — Gray-crowned Rosy 



Finch. 



The Oray-crowned Rosy Finch or Leucosticte was not 

 common. I secured a single female along the White river 

 on December 7. The only other representatives of the spe- 

 cies I found v/ere noted December 10. On that day I 

 watched a flock composed of more than three hundred 

 birds. They Avere flying around and wheeling in great 

 curves, just skimming the ground as if preparatory to alight- 

 ing and then rising suddenly, turning and allowing the light 

 to catch and reflect the rosy tinge of their under parts much 

 as the white underparts of a flock of sandpipers flash sud- 

 denly into view as the birds skim the water of some little 

 pond. 



