Birds of Canada. 51 
dusky brown; tail, forked. Breeds north of 
Ontario. 
Curvirostra americana.—The Red Crossbill. 
The Red Crossbill is six inches long; the 
color, dull red; the wings and tail, blackish- 
brown. This bird is an inhabitant of the pine 
forests of the far north, and usually visits us 
during the winter. Its food consists of the seeds 
of the pine and hemlock, which.it detaches from 
the cones and husks that enclose them with its 
peculiarly shaped bill, which is crossed. 
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. 
Curvirostra leucoptera——The White-winged 
Crossbill. 
This bird has all the general characteristics of 
the Red Crossbill, but is readily distinguished by 
the white bands across the wings. 
