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RED CROSSBILLS are erratic wan- 

 derers. In most places we can only 

 regard them as uncertain winter or 

 spring visitors, yet they do occasional- 

 ly breed on some of our mountains. Of 

 course the most interesting feature of 

 these birds is the curious twisted and 

 crossed bill. Did it occur on but a sin- 

 gle specimen, it would be regarded as 

 a freak and the bill would handicap the 

 bird for procuring food. But when 

 such apparent deformity occurs on all 

 of a species, it is evident that in some 

 way it is of more use to tliem than one 

 of ordinary sliape. When we see the 

 ease and quickness with which they 

 can scale the seeds from a pine cone, 

 the use is plain. It Is a tool especially 

 made for this purpose, for the food of 

 these birds is composed almost wholly 

 of cone seeds. Consequently they are 

 rarely seen except in the immediate vi- 

 cinity of coniferous woods or trees. 

 They have a rather sweet but soft 

 song, although the notes we usually 

 hear are clinking whistles as the flocks 

 fly from one feeding ground to anotlier. 



an infallable mark of recognition in the little crimson cap 

 on the crown. A delicate pale rosy tint often washes over 

 the breast of male birds^ making their plumage very 

 beautiful. 



PURPLE FINCHES are resident birds with us, but 

 during the winter most of them retire to the fastness of 

 dense coniferous woods or swamps, so that we see compara- 

 tively few of them at that season. Old males are hand- 

 somely tinged all over with more or less bright crimson, 

 but young males and females are streaked, sparrow-like 

 birds which, however, may be easily recognized by their 

 stout bills, light line over the eye and their musical ques- 

 tioning call notes. The males warble sweetly, and were 

 formerly trapped and caged because of their beauty and 

 song, until the jDractice was wisely stopped by law. In 

 late spring they separate into pairs and select their nesting 

 sites, which usually are in coniferous trees. 



CRACKLES, commonly known as Blackbirds or Crow 

 Blackbirds, return to us early in spring, from their winter 

 sojourn in southern states. They are nearly always to be 

 seen in flocks, and always seem to have matters of great 

 importance to discuss, if we may judge by their actions 

 and voices. Their creakings, croakings and many reedy 



