220 General Notes. [£j* 



species to which the name mexicanus has been generally applied. Thus, 

 it appears that Nelson's suspicions were well grounded and the changes 

 of names suggested by him are necessary. The name mexicanus becomes 

 a synonym of cinerascens and cooperi becomes available for the species 

 recently known as mexicanus. — Wilfred H. Osgood, Biological Survey, 

 Washington, D. C. 



White-winged Crossbill at Raleigh N. C. — On February 23 a small 

 flock, roughly estimated to contain about thirty individuals, was observed 

 in Pullen Park, about two miles west of town. The birds seemed quite 

 tame and were working about in the tops of the red cedars, apparently 

 feeding on the cedar berries. Three specimens were collected, two of 

 which, adult male and female, were secured by me in the flesh for our 

 museum. So far as I know, this is the first recorded occurrence of the 

 White-winged Crossbill in North Carolina. My assistant was out again 

 all day yesterday, February 25, in quest of more specimens, but none 

 were seen. — H. H. Bkimley, Curator, N. C. State Museum. 



Loxia curvirostra minor in Florida. — So far as I have been able to 

 ascertain, no record of the occurrence of the American Crossbill in Florida 

 existed prior to December last when Mr. W. W. Worthington collected 

 several specimens on Amelia Island, Nassau County, a few miles below 

 Fernandina. He writes me: "Red Crossbills were common in the pine 

 barrens where I met you that day in the carriage. The first one was 

 taken Dec. 4, 1906. They were common all through December, some 

 flocks seen having at least 50 individuals. Small scattering flocks were 

 seen and were still there on Jan. 16, 1907, when the last were taken." 



I am obliged to Mr. Worthington for permission to publish this record. — 

 R. W. Williams, Jr., Tallahassee, Florida. 



The Vesper Sparrow on Long Island, N. Y., in Winter. — On Febru- 

 ary 12 I observed two or three Vesper Sparrows (Pooscetes gramineus) at 

 Bellmore, Long Island. It was very difficult to make out the white in 

 the tail against a background of snow, and I had to follow them about 

 and get them against a dark background to make out this mark satis- 

 factorily. Two birds seen February 10, some where between Babylon and 

 Massapequa, which I was unable to identify, I now believe to have been 

 this species.— John Treadwell Nichols, New York City. 



Malformed Bill of Rose-breasted Grosbeak. — On September 4, 1904, 

 a boy brought to me an adult female Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Zamelodia 

 ludoviciana) , the bill of which presented a curious malformation. Care- 

 ful examination shows that the condition was not caused by injury, as 

 there is no trace whatever of a fracture, and the upper mandible has grown 

 strongly downwards. The eye cavity — which in the normal state is 



