AMERICAN^ CROSSBILL 010 



ACAMTHIS EXiLlPES. 

 Hoary Red-poll. 



DESCRiniON. 



8i'. t'li. ISill, ^■t■I•y sliort. wit/ii tlie outlines of upper nwndibk; cmvcx. (Soc Fi;^. .ji). A.) Size, small, 

 at Iciisl iiu Lirger tliiiu tlu' Rcil-poll. Icu^tiiuot exceeJin.r ^iMl Colors, siuiilar to those of the Greenland 

 Reoliii^il Thus this species diflei's fruiii the Rcl-poll in Iwvinir t!ie colors uiuch lighter, with the rump 

 t'ither plain white, or rosy, nnstreakerl. 



The Hoary Red-poll has been given in lecent lists and ornithological works as a sub-species, but why I 

 do not understand. A sub-species is, as I regard it. an incipient species, in other words, a form which has 

 not ac'iuired sufficient or strong enough characteristics to render it wholly distinct from the parent stock, 

 and thus along the border-line where the two forms come together constant intergrades occur. But when 

 one form inhabits an island or another continent, with no opportunity for actual intergradation there surely 

 can be none. Reversions toward the parent stock may occur for many generations on one side and strong 

 individual traits on the other, which I have called presagement characters, and which indicate the direction 

 of the evolution of a new species. Thus two species may appear to approach one ,'inother quite closely 

 through individual variation, by reversion and presaged characters, when there is no real intirgr.itio.i that 

 marks an incipient or sub-species. 



I do not suppose that thf're is an intelligent ornithologist living today who does not believe in the truths 

 of evolution, for he cannot give the matter close consideration without seeing most clearly that one species is 

 derived from another, and that among all animals reversions toward remote ancestors occur. Also that 

 before a new species becomes evolved certain individuals of the stock, from wdiich it is about to sprhig, will 

 .show some characteristics that will be possessed by the coming species. These are presagement characters, 

 and long after the new species has become fi.xed, through being placed under different environment, these 

 characters will continue to appear in individuals in the parent stock, while on the other hand reversions will 

 occur in the evolved species for many generations. As before remarked, individuals thus characterized on 

 either hand are not in any sense of the word intergrades and cannot rightly be so considered. If we believe 

 in evolution wdiy not apply the facts which it teaches practically? 



Although the Greenland Red-poll as a species in its journey north, following up the retreating ice during 

 the closing centuries of the Glacial Period, probably left behind it some individuals that, through changed 

 environment, produced a smaller and weaker race, after it crossed to Greenland, or after Greenland became 

 separated from the mainland of North America, it could not intergrade with the forms left behind. Thus I 

 do not see any reason why both the Greenland and Hoary Red-polls should not be considered species. The 

 mle here applied may also be applied in many other cases too numerous to mention at this time. 



GENUS. XXVH. LOXIA. THE CROSSBILLS. 



Gkn. Ch. Bill, stout, both mandibles much curved, with the tips elongated and crossed. Wings, long 

 and pointed, folding beyond the middle of the tail which is deeply forked and which has both upper and 

 under covets elongated, extending beyond its middle. A singular and unique genus of finches of which we 

 have two species within our limits. 



LOXIA MINOR. 

 American Crossbill. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cii. Size, medium. P"orm, robust. Color. Adult male. Red throughout, but never rosy. 

 Wings and tail, dark brown, without markings. Iris, bill, and feet, brown. Adult female, greenish gray, 

 throughout, brightest on top of head and rump, where there is sometimes a trace of red, otherwise as in the 

 male. Young, like the females and the males, occur in which there are all stages of mixed red and greenish. 



