iSS4.] BiCKNELL 071 the Singing of Birds. 3^7 



Pinicola enucleator. Pine Grosbeak. 

 Loxia curvirostra americana. Red Crossbill. 



In the spring of 1S75 — a late spring, following a severe winter 

 — both of these hardy birds so far relented from their usual reti- 

 cence while away from their northern homes as to allow us to hear 

 them sing. Of this, I have already written as follows : " .... as 

 the winter waned the birds became none the less common, and in 

 the mild mornings of early spring-time this species [the Crossbill], 

 as well as Pinicola enucleator ^ would often be found in full song, 

 frequentl}^ on the same tree. As I now recall them, the song of 

 the Grosbeak was a subdued rambling v\arble interrupted with 

 whistling notes ; that of the Crossbill bolder and more pronounced 

 as a song."* It the context, wherein is described a nest and three 

 eggs of the Crossbill, taken at Riverdale, on April 30, 1S75, the 

 species is alluded to as having remained up to that time in full 

 song. 



Since tliat season I have met with flocks of Crossbills here in 

 April, May, June, and July, but except an occasional low twitter- 

 ing in May, 1884, their usual nervous chatter was their only utter- 

 ance. 



As for the Pine Grosbeaks, they too remained late the present 

 year — through March — and showed some disposition to sing. 

 Low warbling notes were heard from them in February, at Sing- 

 Sing, by Dr. A. K. Fisher, and also at Riverdale. 



Carpodacus purpureas. Purple Finch. 



There is much irregularity in the occurrence with us of the 

 Pvu'ple Finch, pai'ticularly in the winter season. In some winters 

 it is constantly present in numbers ; in others it is absent. From 

 this arises an irregularity in the time of the beginning of spring 

 song. When the bird has been common through the winter its 

 song is to be heard usually much earlier in the spring than when 

 it is brought by migrants. The time of arrival of the spring mi- 

 grants is also variable, and their songs are first heard sometime 

 between the fourth week of March and the corresponding week 



Bull. N. O. C, Vol. V, No. I, p. 8. January, i£ 



