TWEXTY-SEVKJS'TH ANNUAL MEETING. 125 



seems to show a marked and constant difference in their time of nldiflcation. 

 The eastern bird nests very early in the year, often while the snow is still 

 upon the ground, February and March being the favorite months. The 

 western form rarely nests before Maj'. (Trippe.) Mr. Trippe referred his 

 Colorado specimens to the variety Americana, but admitted that some of 

 them approached variety Mexicana in measurements. According to the 

 opinion of Mr. William Brewster (Auk, vol. Ill, p. 261), all of the western 

 birds should be referred to the variety Stricklandi. 



At Manhattan I have watched very carefully for signs of nidification on the 

 part of the crossbills, but have observed none. The birds have been heard in 

 full song in the spring, but have shown no signs of mating. They always 

 appear in flocks, males and females together, except in the one instance 

 already noted. They have remained until late in April with only a slight in- 

 crease in restlessness observable. That is, they became less tame than in 

 midwinter, and took wing more quickly on being approached. It is prob- 

 able that these birds will be found nesting in the northwestern part of Kan- 

 sas, and in the pine hills of northwest Nebraska. 



The food of the crossbills is not greatly varied; seed from pine cones 

 seems to be a favorite, and when intent upon the work of securing the seeds, 

 they seem to be especially tame. I have several times secured the live birds 

 by merely grasping them in my hand while thus engaged on low branches. 

 When released the birds soon returned to their occupation of feeding. The 

 seed of the wild sunflower is another favorite food, and I have often seen 

 them in company with flocks of American goldfinches engaged in feeding on 

 this rather abundant weed. Late in April I have also seen them feeding 

 on the dried seed-balls of the Osage orange along our hedges. Professor 

 Dyche reports them as feeding upon hemp-seed, this being the only food 

 found in the 40 specimens secured by him in 1885. 



