Vol i907" IV ] Ferry, Notes on Winter Birds. 125 



were first observed on August 27, and were repeatedly observed 

 during September, October and November, at times being quite 

 abundant. They are a regular winter resident in this locality 

 and show a decided fondness for the seeds of the horn beam. Bar- 

 berry and other fruit-bearing shrubbery is also a favorite resort 

 of this bird. 



Loxia curvirostra minor. American Crossbill. 



Loxia leucoptera. White-winged Crossbill. — The abun- 

 dance of Crossbills — both species — was perhaps the most inter- 

 esting feature of this season's bird-study. On October 6 both 

 species were taken, flocks of 10-15 of each kind being observed. 

 They were found in the thick pines, and they made the area grown 

 with these trees resound with their penetrating, metallic notes. 

 These birds must have been continually present from October 6 

 until December 25 when one bird was seen. They were seen on 

 each of weekly trips made during October and November and at 

 times were extremely abundant, their clear, high-pitched calls 

 being heard almost constantly. The White-winged Crossbills 

 possibly outnumbered the red variety, two to one. Their distribu- 

 tion in the vicinity of Chicago seems to have been very general, 

 as one or both species has been reported from Jackson Park, 

 Chicago, Glen Ellyn, River Forest, and Lake Forest. In the 

 latter place on October 28, several large flocks, one of them number- 

 ing about 40 individuals, were seen flying restlessly about private 

 grounds where conifers were abundant. A few detached indi- 

 viduals were frequently observed to suddenly halt their flight 

 overhead and drop into the top of a tall spruce, where they seemed 

 to vanish completely. After a short lapse they would start calling, 

 and then, if they did not suddenly take flight, they would be seen 

 moving like miniature parrots, along the branches in search of 

 cones. The note of the White-winged Crossbill somewhat re- 

 sembles the call of the Pine Siskin, but it is much magnified in 

 tone and volume. When calling to each other the note has a sharp, 

 strident quality, which the observer can quite easily imitate by 

 giving short, sharp, quick whistles. By this mimicry a flock 

 passing overhead can frequently be lured into the top of the tree 

 beneath which the observer stands. The wariness exhibited by 

 both species varies greatly with circumstances. At times a flock 



