228 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



quent the elm trees, feeding on the slender but sweet covering of the 

 flowers ; and, as soon as the cherries put out their blossoms, feed almost 

 exclusively on the stamina of the flowers ; afterwards, the apple blossoms 

 are attacked in the same manner ; and their depredations on these contin- 

 ued till they disappear, which is usually about the 10th or middle of May." 

 I have have never found the nest of this bird. According to different 

 writers it is usually placed in evergreens or orchard trees, and is com- 

 posed of grass, strips of bark and various vegetable fibers. The eggs, 

 said to be, usually four in number, are described as being dull-green, 

 spotted, chiefly about the larger end, with very dark-brown; they vary 

 considerably in size, but average probably .86 long by .65 wide. 



GENUS LOXIA LINNAEUS. 



Loxia curvirostra minor 



American Crossbill, 



DESCRIPTION {Plate 93). 



Male dull red ; wings arid tail blackish ; i'emale brownish-olive, tinged with yel- 

 low and streaked with dusky. Immature birds, often considerably different from 

 the adults, can always be recognized by their sickle-shaped bills and the absence of 

 white wing bands. Length about 6 inches ; extent about 11. 



Habitat. Northern North America, resident sparingly south in the eastern United 

 States to Maryland and Tennessee and in the Alleghanies ; irregularly abundant in 

 winter ; resident south in the Rocky mountains to Colorado. 



Two species and one geographical race,* of the genus Loxia are found 

 in North America. Both species occur in Pennsylvania. Crossbills, as 

 the name would indicate, can, by their bill alone, be known from all 

 other of our feathered visitants. The American Crossbill and the White- 

 winged species may be distinguished without difficulty, if you remem- 

 ber that the first-named never has white bands on the wings, and the 

 other species, whether in adult or immature plumage, has, as its specific 

 name signifies, white wing marks. The Crossbills, inhabitants chiefly 

 of pine and hemlock forests, are frequently met with, during autumn 

 and winter months, in various sections of this commonwealth. 



The American Crossbill breeds regularly in Clinton, Clearneld, Lu- 

 zerne, Lycoming and Cameron counties, and also doubtless in the higher 

 mountainous regions in other parts of the state. Dr. W. L. Hartman, 

 of Pittston, has taken the nest and eggs of this bird, in March, in Lu- 

 zerne county, and Prof. August Kock has observed the old birds with 

 their young early in May feeding on the buds and blossoms of apple 

 trees about Williamsport. Dr. Yan Fleet informs me they are found at 

 all seasons about Eenovo. In nearly all the mountainous regions of 

 Pennsylvania the Crossbills are quite common in winter, and are found 

 often in large flocks, which number sometimes two hundred, frequent- 



* The Mexican Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra stricklandi, Ridgw. ), found in Colorado, southern Arizona 

 and the table lands of Mexico, is said to differ from the American Crossbill in being brighter in color and 

 having a slightly larger bill; the lower mandible especially is heavier than that of L. c. minor. 



