JUNE IN FRANCONIA. 27 



one out of which the grosbeaks had dropped. 

 But a single glance showed that they were 

 not grosbeaks, but white-winged crossbills ! 

 And soon they, too, were joined by a third 

 bird, in female garb. Here was a pretty 

 piece of confusion! I was delighted to see 

 the crossbills, having never before had the 

 first glimpse of them, summer or winter; 

 but what was I to think about the gros- 

 beaks? "Your determination is worthless," 

 said my scientific friend, consolingly; and 

 there was no gainsaying his verdict. Yet 

 by what possibility could I have been so de- 

 ceived? The birds, though none too near, 

 had given me an excellent observation, and 

 as long as they were in sight I had felt no 

 uncertainty whatever as to their identity. 

 The bill alone, of which I had taken partic- 

 ular note, ought in all reason to be held 

 conclusive. So much for one side of the 

 case. On the other hand, however, the 

 second trio were unmistakably crossbills. 

 (They had been joined on the wing by sev- 

 eral others, as I ought to have mentioned, 

 and with their characteristic chattering cry 

 had swept out of sight up the mountain). 

 It was certainly a curious coincidence : three 



