CROSSBILLS 377 



tame and unsuspicious as a general rule, feeding about the 

 camps on such matter as may be thrown out. 



A very dear friend, Wade Fogg, while in the woods for his 

 health made a number of observations regarding them and 

 wrote me shortly before his death giving the results of his 

 observations which are given herewith. He writes : — "American 

 Crossbills are very plentiful around here (Katahdin Iron Works) 

 in winter, usually being found in flocks of five to ten or more. 

 In the early morning they can be heard high overhead, uttering 

 a quick characteristic calling. After the sun strikes the tops of 

 the elms they alight on them, changing their note to one of a 

 different nature. As the sun rises higher and higher and 

 begins to melt the snow around the buildings, they fly to the 

 ground and feed on almost anything thrown out. Whether or 

 not they eat scraps of pork and salt I do not know, but I have 

 repeatedly seen them eating the discolored snow wet on by the 

 horses and men around the camp doors. 



The American Crossbill seems never at rest. Even when 

 feeding on the ground they are always on the alert and con- 

 tinually rising, perching for a short time on some convenient 

 place and then dropping back for a few more choice bits. In 

 the afternoon they seem to disapear from their haunts of the 

 morning and although I have looked for them the only result 

 has been the sound of a note or so floating down from high 

 overhead." (Wade A. Fogg.) 



At times the Crossbills are indeed watchful and wary, just 

 as Mr. Fogg wrote, seemingly ready to take flight at the least 

 sound, again they are exceedingly tame and will barely hop 

 out of one's way as they walk by. The diet is supposed to be 

 normally seeds of various kinds but as a matter of fact the 

 Crossbill is omnivorus. 



On the University of Maine Campus a flock of twenty re- 

 mained all the spring feeding on the seeds of the spruce and 

 pine. They would deftly insert their bills in the scales of the 

 cones, and with a quick prying twisting motion, part the scales 



