AMERICAN CROSSBILL. 
521. Loxia curvirostra minor. 6 inches. 
These curious creatures appear in flocks on the out- 
skirts of our cities every winter, where they will be 
found almost exclusively in coniferous trees. They 
cling to the cones, upon which they are feeding, in 
every conceivable attitude, and a shower of seeds and 
broken cones rattling through the branches below shows 
that they are busily working. They are very eccentric 
birds and the whole flock often takes flight, without ap- 
parent cause, only to circle about again to the same 
trees. The flute-like whistle that they utter when in 
flight sounds quite pleasing when coming from all the 
individuals in the flock. 
Song.—A low twittering; call, a short, flute-like 
whistle. 
Nest.—In coniferous trees, of spruce twigs, shreds 
of bark and some moss or grass. The three or four 
eggs are greenish white spotted with brown (.75 x .5d). 
Range.—Breeds from northern New England north- 
ward and westward, and south in mountains to Georgia; 
winters in the northern half of the U.S. 
