20 THE O. & O. SEMI-ANNUAL. 
amined the young ; they were a greenish-brown color, and there was 
down on the ends of their feathers, especially on the head and back. 
The tail was more than half grown, and the flight of the young bird 
that escaped seemed very strong. The bills of the young were not 
in the least crossed, and this proves that the beaks take this form as 
they arrive at maturity ; the appearance was like that of any young 
Finch. It strikes me that their bills were too tender to procure food, 
and that the parents fed them for a longer period than is usual in the 
Finch family. But since that time the axe has done its work. We 
find no more of this species in this neighborhood, as it has little to 
feed on.” 
“The nest is, as has been stated, very thick, compact and large ; 
nature has taught the bird so to construct it, as otherwise the eggs 
and young would be frozen. The crops of the three young procured 
were quite distended with hemlock seed. The external covering in 
every case was removed and each seed was bruised and covered with 
a peculiar or glutinous fluid, either so given by the old birds or pro- 
duced in the crop of the young ones, perhaps as in parent Parrots.” 
“Tt seems remarkable that Crossbills should breed so early in the 
year. It is not at all strange in any of these months to see the ther- 
mometer frequently below zero. Their food is at this time abundant 
and continues so until summer, and it seems improbable that food 
supply is the cause of such early incubation.” 
The eggs of this species are of a greenish-white hue, spotted 
towards the large end with purple and lilac. 
THE WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. 
Loxia Leucoptera. 
In size, form, plumage and general habits, this species differs but 
little from the more common Red Crossbill, and its nest is stated to 
be much similar. Like its congeners it is chiefly a winter visitant in 
this country, and seldom observed except in severe cold weather, 
and then in isolated parties ; nor does it associate in any way with 
the other species of Crossbill. It appears to make its general home 
in the desolate evergreen woods of more northern latitudes extending 
from Maine towards the Rocky Mountains, and has been observed 
in Alaska. In winter and early spring it is commonly met with in 
