918 



Report of State Geologist. 



121. (JENts LOXIA liiNX Kis. 



a'. Wiiiij with no white. L. curvirostra minor (Brelim ). 199 



a-. Wing witli white. L. leucoptera (Tniel. 200 



199. (o-l)- Loxia curvirostra minor (Bkehm.). 



American Crossbill. 



American Crofsbills — Male and Female. (Reduced.) 



Adult Male. — Bill, crossed; above, bricky-red; wings, blackish, -un- 

 marked. Female. — Brownish-olive, streaked and speckled with dusky, 

 the rump saffron. Immature Males. — Mottled with greenish and green- 

 ish yellow. 



Length, 5.50-6.25; wing, 3.20-3.60; tail, 1.85-2.40. 



Eange. — Northern North America in winter; south irregularly to 

 South Carolina and Louisiana. Of irregular occurrence south into 

 the Ohio Valley in summer. Breeds along the Alleghanies from 

 the northern United States and occasionally to Georgia. 



Nest, in evergreen trees; of evergreen twigs, bark; lined with horse- 

 hair, fine rootlets, grass and feathers. Eggs, 3-4; pale greenish, 

 spotted and dotted, mostly at larger end with various shades of brown 

 and purplish; .75 by .57 (Bicknell, N. 0. C, Vol. V., pp. 7-11). 



A very erratic bird. When found is generally noted as a winter 

 visitor or migrant in flocks; less common in southern Indiana; some 

 winters wholly wanting. They are sometimes found singly in company 

 with Pine Siskins. Prefers localities where pines or other coniferous 

 trees are found. There they sometimes remain quite well into the 

 summer, and are reported to breed. 



