AMERICAN CEOSSBILL. 



521. Loxia curvirostra minor. 6 inches. 



These curious creatures appear in flocks on the out- 

 skirts of our cities every winter, where they will be 

 found almost exclusively in coniferous trees. They 

 cling to the cones, upon which they are feeding, in 

 every conceivable attitude, and a shower of seeds and 

 broken cones rattling through the branches below 

 shows that they are busily working. They are very 

 eccentric birds and the whole flock often takes flight, 

 without apparent cause, only to circle about again to 

 the same trees. The flute-like whistle that they utter 

 when in flight sounds quite pleasing when coming from 

 all the individuals in the flock. 



Song. A low twittering; call, a short, flute-liko 

 whistle. 



Nest. In coniferous trees, of spruce twigs, shreds 

 of bark and some moss or grass. The three or four 

 eggs are greenish white spotted with brown (.75x.55). 

 Range. Breeds from northern New England 

 Dorthward and westward, and south in mountains to 

 Georgia; winters in the northern half of the U. S. 



