228 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Having had few opportunities for observing the habits of this spe- 

 cies, we quote the following from History of North American Birds 

 (Vol. I., pp. 487, 488), written by Dr. Thos. M. Brewer: 



"The Crossbills are extremely gentle and social, are easily ap- 

 proached, caught in traps, and even knocked down with sticks. 

 Their food is chiefly the seeds of the Coniferce, and also those of 

 plants. Audubon's statement that they destroy apples merely to 

 secure the seeds is hardly accurate. They are extravagantly fond 

 of this fruit, and prefer the flesh to its seeds. Their flight is undu- 

 lating, somewhat in the manner of the Goldfinch, firm, swift and 

 often protracted. As they fly, they always keep up the utterance 

 of their loud, clear call-notes. They move readily on the ground, 

 up or down the trunks and limbs of trees, and stand as readily 

 with their heads downward as upright. 



"So far as is known, these Crossbills breed in mid- winter, or 

 very early in the spring, when the weather is the most inclement. 

 The nest and eggs of this species were procured by Mr. Charles S. 

 Paine, in East Kandolph, Vt., early in the month of March. The 

 nest was built in an upper branch of an elm, which, of course, 

 was leafless, the ground was covered with snow, and the weather 

 severe. The birds were very tame and fearless, refusing to leave 

 their eggs, and had to be several times taken off by the hand. 

 After its nest had been taken, and Mr. Paine was descending with 

 it in his hand, the female again resumed her place upon it, to pro- 

 tect the eggs from the biting frost. The eggs were four in number 

 and measured .85 by .53 of an inch. They have a greenish white 

 ground, and are beautifully blotched, marbled, and dotted with vari- 

 ous shades of lilac and purplish brown." 



[Further interesting information on the breeding habits of this 

 species may be found in the "Nuttall Bulletin" for January, 1880, 

 pp. 7-11, and 50, 51; and in the "Ornithologist and Oologist" for 

 December, 1880, pp. 78, 79, is a record of the capture of speci- 

 mens at Rugby, Tennessee, July 27 and August 7, 1880.] 



Loxia leucoptera (Gmel.) 



WHITE-WINGED CEOSSBILL. 



Loxia leucoptera GMEL. S. N. i, 1788, 844. Nurr. Man. i, 1852. 540. AUD. Orn. Biog. iv, 

 1883. 467, pi. 364; Synop. 1839; B. Am. iii, 1841, 190, pi. 201. B. B. and B. Hist, N. Am. 

 B. i, 1874, 488, pi. 23, figs. 2, 3. COUES, Check List, 1873, No. 142; 2d ed. 1882, No. 198; 

 B. N. W. 1874, 110. RIDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 175. 



