AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 39 



HABITS. 



HE most striking feature about this 

 interesting species of birds is the odd 

 shape of their bills, from which their 

 name is taken. It would seem that a bill 

 of such peculiar design would prove very 

 inconvenient to the owner at feeding 

 time, but, however, strange it may appear 

 to us, they are very skillful in opening pine 

 cones, apples and other articles that form their diet, 

 and to them it is probably as useful as it appears odd 

 to us. During the winter quite large flocks of Cross- 

 bills come from Canada and rove about the country as far south as the 

 middle portions of the United States. They are as irregular in their 

 occurance in any one locality as they are erratic in their flight. With 

 most birds you can depend upon finding them in some particular section 

 of the country at a certain season of the year, but not so with the Cross- 

 bills. One season they may be very abundant in a certain locality and 

 then not be seen there again for several years. 



When present in a place they are continually wandering aimlessly 

 about, and their destination seems to be as little known to themselves 

 as it is to the observer. Frequently I have watched a flock flying swift- 

 ly overhead with their characteristic undulatory flight, apparently bound 

 for the next county or even farther. Suddenly, as if the entire flock 

 were controlled by one mind, they all speed downward and alight in the 

 top of a nearby pine. Whether they fly under the leadership of one in- 

 dividual or each one for himself, they are exceedingly well drilled, for 

 no military organization could execute the manouvers through which they 

 go with equal speed and precision. 



They respond very readily to a crude imitiation of the continuous 

 chattering whistle that they utter while in flight, but are ever restless 

 when in the tree tops, and at some fancied danger the whole flock will 

 rise as one bird, and, after a very round about course will, in all likeli- 

 hood, alight in the same tree from which they started. Unless some 

 sudden move is made to startle them they are very tame and pay little 

 attention to observers. A small clump of pine not far from home is a 

 favorite locality for them to occupy if any are in the neighborhood. In 

 late fall and winter, they are often found here in company with the 

 American Red Crossbills. Probably a small pond-hole in the midst of 

 the grove has much to do with the popularity of the place, for these 

 birds often like to quench their thirst while feeding. 



Often have I called, by imitation, a passing flock of these strange bil- 



