BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 295 
cannot be quite assured of my authority. Those I have from 
its noted breeding places are made of fine roots, grasses and 
occasional hairs. Not infrequently other materials are incor- 
porated, like fine strips of the inner bark-like fibers of rank 
weeds, and sometimes mosses. 
The eggs are bluish-green with spots and lines of dark brown 
or black, and are much the smallest at one end. I understand 
from reliable observers that they rear two broods each season, 
of four to five, the nests being found at distances varying from 
twenty to forty feet from the ground, and commonly in conif- 
erous trees, but not uniformly. 
It is said to be extremely destructive to the buds of fruit 
trees in New England, which makes it very unwelcome despite 
its beautiful warblings and plumage, but no complaints have 
yet been heard from pomologists in Minnesota. They are said 
to bear confinement well, and become delightfully pugnacious 
little pets, like their more domestic cousins, the House Finch 
or Burions of California. 
Dr. J. C. Hvoslef reports it at Lanesboro, near the southern 
limit of the State, April 26, 1884. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Second quill longest; first shorter than third, considerable 
longer than fourth; body crimson, palest on the rump and 
breast, darkest across the middle of the back and wing 
coverts, where the feathers have dusky centers; the red 
extends below continuously to the lower part of the breast and 
in spots to the tibiz; belly and under tail coverts white, 
streaked faintly with brown, except in the very middle; edges 
of wings and tail feathers brownish red; lesser coverts like 
the back; two reddish bands across the wings, over the middle 
and greater coverts; lores dull grayish. 
Length, 6,25; wing, 3.35; tail, 2.50; bill above, 0.45. 
Habitat, eastern North America west to the Plains. 
LOXIA CURVIROSTRA MINOR (BrEHm). (521. ) 
AMERICAN CROSSBILL. 
Somewhat irregularly common in small flocks which usually 
come about the 10th of November in this locality, this remark- 
able species is found in the winter months in nearly all of the 
timbered sections of the State. Their habit of roving around 
from one locality to another is quite characteristic, and they 
suddenly whirl from a given direction of flight and perch upon 
some dry tree-top, leaving themselves by their conspicious col- 
202 
