- LIST AND DESCRIPTION Tien: 
517. Purpve Fincu (Carpodacus purpureus purpureus.) 
A rare summer resident in South Dakota. Thick bill; 
forked tail; head, back and breast pinkish purple; lower belly 
whitish; wings and tail slaty. About the size of the English 
Sparrow, which the female and young resemble. While it has 
none of the obnoxious habits of the English Sparrow, it is sup- 
posed to be its nearest relative. 
521. Crosspiti (Loxia curvirostra minor.) 
The Crossbill may be an annual resident in our western 
tier of counties. It has been taken in the eastern part of the 
State as a migrant. About the size of the English Sparrow. 
As the name implies, the two halves of the bill are crossed, 
adapting it for twisting seeds from pine cones. These seeds are 
their main food and they often eat hanging to branches head 
downward. 
Wings and tail slaty gray. Head, back and under parts 
brownish red. Females and young dull olive green; rump and 
under parts tinged with yellow. 
522. WHITE-WINGED CrossBILL (Loxia leucoptera.) 
Size similar to the Crossbill; range farther north; irregu- 
lar in migration during winter in South Dakota. 
Male dull carmine red, lighter on rump; wings black with 
two white bars; female and young brownish, tinged with yellow; 
bill crossed as in the preceding species. The Crossbills are 
great wanderers during winter and for that reason have been 
called the “gypsies” among birds; however, it may be said that 
their habitat is the coniferous forests of North America. 
528. Reppoti (Acanthis linaria linaria.) 
The somewhat obscured red crown patch and rosy breast 
help to distinguish this cheery little bird in winter from numer- 
ous Sparrows. It nests in the northern part of the Northern 
Hemisphere, but in winter it comes to us and may be seen feed- 
ing on weed seeds, usually about the edges of groves. 
529. GoLpFINcH (Astragalinus tristis tristis.) 
This charming bird is frequently called “Wild Canary,” but 
there are no Wild Canaries in this country. Its black cap, wings 
