488 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



the female again resumed her place upon it, to protect her eggs from the 

 biting frost. The eggs were four in number, and measured .85 by .53 of 

 an inch. They have a greenish-white ground and are beautifully blotched, 

 marbled, and dotted with various shades of lilac and purplish-brown. 



Loxia curvirostra, var. mexicana, Strickland. 



MEXICAN CROSSBILL. 



Loxia mexicana, Strickland, Jardine Contrib. Orn. 1851, 43. — Sclatek, P. Z. S. 1859, 

 365. — Ib. 1864, 174, City of Mexico. — Salvin, Ibis, 1866, 193 (Guatemala). 



Sp. Char. Colors of americana. but red brighter, more scarlet. Bill very large, the 

 lower mandible nearly or quite equal to the upper in strength and length. Wing, 4.00 ; 

 tail, 2.50 ; bill (from forehead) .82. 



Hab. Mountainous regions of Southern North America, from Gruateraala, north into 

 Rocky Mountains of United States ; Mexico, Orizaba. 



This bird is quite as well marked as any of the plain- winged " species," 

 differing from curvirostra and americana quite as much as they do from each 

 otlier. 



All specimens from jVIexico, as well as from the Central Eocky Mountains 

 of the United States, are referrible to this form, though in winter the ajucri- 

 cana may also be found in the latter region, as a migrant from the north. 



Habits. The occurrence of this well-marked race among the mountain- 

 ous districts of Mexico is a very interesting and suggestive fact in regard to 

 the distribution of birds, demonstrating, as it does, the close connection be- 

 tween high latitudes and high elevations as favoring similar forms. It was 

 first described by Strickland from specimens obtained on the plateau near 

 the city of Mexico. Another specimen is referred to by Mr. Sclater as 

 having been received i'rom Jalapa, Mexico ; and Mr. Sumichrast obtained 

 also a single specimen of this species at Moyoapam, in the alpine region of 

 Orizaba, where it is known as the Pico cruzado. It was taken at an eleva- 

 tion of about 7,500 feet. Mr. Sumichrast was unable to determine whether 

 this bird was resident, or only a migratory visitant in the winter. I can find 

 no reference to any distinctive peculiarities of habits 



Loxia leucoptera, Gmrlin. 



WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. 



Loxia letccoptera, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 540. — Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 467, pi. 

 ccclxiv. — Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 190, pi. cci. — Bon. & Schl. Men. Loxiens, 1850, 

 8, pi. ix. — Gould, B. Gt. Britain, V, 1864 (killed England, Sept. 17). Curvirostra 

 leucoptera, "WiLS. Am. Orn. IV, 1811, 48, pi. xxxi, f. 3. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 

 427. — Dall & Bannister, Tr. Oh. Ac. I, 1869, 281 (Alaska). — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 

 149. — Samuels, 293. Crucirostra leucoptera, Brehm, Naumanuia, I, 1853, 254, fig. 

 20. Loxia falcirostra, Lath. Index, Orn. I, 1790, 371. 



