JUNE IN FRANCONIA. bial § 
one out of which the grosbeaks had dropped. 
But a single glance showed that they were 
not grosbeaks, but white-winged crossbills! 
And soon they, too, were joined by a third 
bird, in female garb. Here was a pretty 
piece of confusion! I was delighted to see 
the crossbills, having never before had the 
first glimpse of them, summer or winter; 
but what was I to think about the gros- 
beaks? ‘‘ Your determination is worthless,”’ 
said my scientific friend, consolingly; and 
there was no gainsaying his verdict. Yet 
by what possibility could I have been so de- 
ceived? The birds, though none too near, 
had given me an exceilent observation, and 
as long as they were in sight I had felt no 
uncertainty whatever as to their identity. 
The bill alone, of which I had taken partic- 
ular note, ought in all reason to be held 
conclusive. So much for one side of the 
ease. On the other hand, however, the 
second trio were unmistakably crossbills. 
(They had been joined on the wing by sev- 
eral others, as I ought to have mentioned, 
and with their characteristic chattering cry 
had swept out of sight up the mountain). 
It was certainly a curious coincidence: three 
