Widmann — A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 167 



both in the east and west. In the Auk, vol. 5, 1888, Mr. L. 0. 

 Pindar reports the occurrence of a flock of 8 or 10 Pine Groskeaks 

 at Hickman, Ky., February 7, 1888. On the 8th, 11th, and 13th 

 they were again seen, and on the 24th one male and three females 

 were secured. On the 25th another female was shot and 3 or 

 4 females were seen March 19th. The Kansas record is taken 

 from Snow, ''Birds of Kansas," 3rd ed., 1875, where it is said 

 that according to Dr. Brewer this species was taken once in 

 winter at Leavenworth by Sidney Smith. 



517. Carpodacus purpureus (Gmel.). Purple Finch. 



Fringilla purpurea. Erythrospiza purpurea. 



Geog. Dist. — Eastern North America; breeding from Penn- 

 sylvania (in mountains), northern New Jersey, Connecticut, 

 southern Ontario, Minnesota and North Dakota to the Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence, Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan and Alberta. In 

 winter from eastern Nebraska, Indiana and New Jersey south- 

 ward to Florida and eastern Texas. 



In Missouri a common transient visitant and not a rare, but 

 irregular, winter resident, much more common in eastern than 

 in western Missouri. Their presence in winter is not so much 

 dependent on temperature as on abundance of favorite food, 

 which they find chiefly in the river bottoms, as Ash and Syca- 

 more seeds, buds and seeds of Elm and Maple, Ambrosia seeds, 

 etc. Migratory movements begin with the first warm w^eather 

 in February, when the hardiest sparrows. Bluebirds, Robins, 

 Redwings, Ducks, Geese, etc., advance northward. About 

 March 10 migration becomes brisk and during the rest of the 

 month and until April 20 large flocks of singing birds are present. 

 The last birds, chiefly females and young males, are usually 

 noted during the last week of April, sometimes in the first week 

 of May, or in very backward springs as that of 1907 until May 

 19 (St. Louis). The first appear in fall migration about Sep- 

 tember 20, become common in the first week of October and re- 

 main so to the end of the month, roaming about in small flocks 

 and singing often. After the first week of November winter 

 numbers only are left. 



521. LoxiA cuRviROSTRA MINOR (Brehm). American Crossbill. 



Loxia curvirostra. Loxia americana. Loxia curvirostra americana. 



Geog. Dist. — Northern and Eastern North America; breeding 

 in coniferous forests from southern Alleghanies in northern 



