SUPPLEMENT TO BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY 137 



213 [515] Pinicola enucleator leucura (Miill.). 



Pine Grosbeak. 



Irregular and at times abundant winter visitor. October 27 to March. 



In the last fifteen years I have few records of this bird in Essex County, 

 namely, in the winters of 1906-07 and 1918-19, and in November, 1910. 



214 [517] Carpodacus purpureus purpureus (Gmel.). 

 Purple Finch. 



Permanent resident, common in summer, rare in winter. April i to Novem- 

 ber 5 ; winter. 



Eggs: June 8 to June 19. 



The flight song of this bird is a delightful performance. On slightly quiver- 

 ing wings he sails about in wide circles pouring out his most rapturous song, 

 and then with wings stretched up at an angle of 45° he floats slowly down still 

 singing and continues to sing for several minutes from his perch on the top of 

 a tree. 



Dr. y. C. Phillips described to me, in a letter of May 23, 191 5, the courtship 

 display of this bird which " stood on the ground before the female very upright 

 with extended wings waving back and forth over the back very fast." Olive 

 Thome Miller^ says: " Even the charming Purple Finch expands his plumage and 

 executes a dainty and exquisite graceful dance." 



♦ 



215 [521] Loxia curvirostra minor (Brehm). 



Crossbill; Red Crossbill. 



Irregular visitor at all seasons, generally in winter; very rare summer resi- 

 dent. October 24 to May 25 (July 12). 



The Red Crossbill visited Essex County in the years 1905, 1906-07, 1908, 

 1908-09, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1916, 1916-17, 1918-19, and 1919-20. 



Mr. William Brewster^ reported the nesting of this bird in Marblehead, a 

 unique instance for eastern Massachusetts. The discovery was made by two 



1 Miller, O. T. The Bird Our Brother, Boston, p. 185, 1908. 



2 Brewster, W. Auk, vol. 35, p. 225, 1918. 



