12 FRINGILLHLE. 



the same species as that of Europe ; but the measurement 

 given by Mr. Audubon of the American bird, viz., whole 

 length seven inches, extent of wings eleven inches, is equal 

 to that of our own bird, and some of our English examples 

 are even the smaller of the two. The general description 

 of the plumage and its changes, as given in the second 

 volume of the Biography, page 560, agrees with the appear- 

 ances of our bird ; and Mr. Audubon concludes his account 

 of the American species with the following sentence : " I 

 have carefully compared skins of the American bird with 

 others of that found in Scotland, but have not succeeded in 

 detecting any differences sufficient to indicate a specific 

 distinction."" The localities inhabited by the Crossbill in 

 North America are thus referred to in the work just 

 quoted : " I have found this species more abundant in 

 Maine, and in the British Provinces of New Brunswick 

 and Nova Scotia, than anywhere else. Although I have 

 met with it as early as the month of August in the Great 

 Pine Forest of Pennsylvania, I have never seen its 

 nest." The habits of the birds in the two countries are 

 identical. 



The plumage of the nestling Crossbill has been already 

 described. The next appearance, that of young birds 

 when first seen in this country in June and July, presents 

 a greyish white on the head, neck, and all the under sur- 

 face of the body, streaked longitudinally with dusky 

 brown ; the wings and tail uniform dull brown. At this 

 age, as observed by Mr. Blyth, they resemble the female 

 Siskin in their plumage ; but the males are distinguished 

 from the females by having the striated portion of the 

 plumage considerably more distinct, and more vividly con- 

 trasted, than that of the female. The upper bird in the 

 group at the head of this subject represents a young bird. 



