BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 331 



General Dearborn was the first to discover the nest of this 

 bird in Massachusetts. It was built on the low branch of a 

 balsam fir, with the outside covered with lichens. Mr. Cabot 

 and Dr. Brewer have also found them ; but the number of 

 those that remain with us at that season, must be small. 



The Pine Grosbeak, Pyrrhala enucleator, is an inhabitant 

 of cold regions, and comes to us at irregular intervals, either in 

 winter or when that season is nigh. Professor Emmons tells 

 me that they were common near Williamstown in the autumn 

 of 1836, which was unusuall)^ gloomy and cold. They are 

 splendid birds, but so great strangers here, that they hardly 

 merit a description. 



The Common Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra, belongs to 

 northern regions, and comes to us during the winter, in search 

 of food. It delights in the seeds of evergreens, and makes 

 use of its singular bill to extract them, holding the cones in 

 its claw, like the parrot, while it forces the seed vessels open. 

 At the south it is in the habit of tearing apples to pieces, for 

 the sake of extracting the seeds. Wilson says, that in deep 

 snows, it is familiar at the cabin of the hunter ; when disturbed, 

 it flies only to the roof and soon descends to the ground, to 

 feed as before. When better food is wanting, it sometimes 

 relieves the sensation of hunger by swallowing bits of clay. 

 When engaged in eating, it may be seen standing on one foot 

 and feeding itself with the other. It sometimes employs its 

 bill CO aid itself in the act of climbing. 



Audubon has not succeeded in finding the nest of this bird, 

 tut he has explained the difference of markings as connected 

 with its particular age. 



The White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, visits us, 

 like the former, in the winter season. It is more common per- 

 haps than the other, but still is rare. It comes in large flocks, 

 and then is not seen for several years. In form and habits it 



