THE OOLOGIST. 



89 



less within a few feet of a railroad, but a 

 nest was found under just such circum- 

 stances on the Midland railroad in Oneida 

 Valley three years since, and subsequent 

 inquiry testified that the young were reared 

 with as much security as if the nest had 

 been in an apple-tree. If our correspon- 

 dent who found the nest of the Passenger 

 Pigeon in a hemlock tree, twelve feet from 

 the ground, was certain of its identity as 

 he informs us, here is another instance of 

 the fact that birds will sometimes choose 

 nesting places quite unlike those they are 

 in the habit of resorting to. The nest of 

 the House Wren found a short time ago, in 

 a crevice at the terminus of a powder-blast 

 boring in a stone quarry, near Utica, con- 

 tained four young birds, and was at least 

 one of the most unique of nesting places. 

 Such instances show that infringements up- 

 on the habitual characteristic cannot but 

 frequently occur, and sometimes under the 

 most interesting and unusual circumstances. 

 It cannot be denied that the disadvan- 

 tages aiforded by vegetation for nesting 

 places, in localities vmlike those birds have 

 been accustomed to, are often the cause of 

 the selection of odd positions for nidifica- 

 tion. Birds seldom as a general thinjj 

 breed in localities that do not suit them, but 

 when they do, the nest, when compared in 

 composition and structure to specimens tak- 

 en from other localities, exhibits a greater 

 or less dissimilarity. For example, we 

 should probably find the more tasteful a- 

 mong our northern builders to employ Span- 

 ish moss in the construction of a nest built 

 in the more southern portions of the coun- 

 try ; or, we should note the lack of lichens 

 in the nests of some of our arboral builders, 

 were they constructed on the ground, where 

 the universal substances are straws and 



The next issue of The Oologist will be 

 the first number of a new volume. We 

 shall introduce some improvements and it 

 will contain a superb illustration of t\to of 

 our rare Warblers. Induce your ornitho- 

 logical friends to subscribe. 



JlrrhertacLTL ^trds. 



Notes on the Red Crossbill. 



fF the winter be not too severe, Loxia 

 curvirostris remains with us in New 

 York from December to February 

 and March. It often makes a permanent 

 residence from the latter part of November 

 until the middle of May, which would in- 

 dicate that it breeds here. It has never 

 been recognized as a summer resident so 

 far south as Oneida County, and it is quite 

 probable from the fact that it isolates itself 

 during the breeding season, that it has been 

 overlooked. Specimens have been shot as 

 late as the middle of May. I am informed 

 that four of these birds were shot at Clin- 

 ton, N. Y., about the first of May, and a 

 flock of no less than twenty have frequent- 

 ed a n'ursery since the latter part of the fall 

 of 1876; at this writing (May 16) they 

 are still among the trees in the same place, 

 where those who have observed them are 

 of the opinion they will breed. Mr. J. P. 

 Davis of Utica, states that a large commu- 

 nity of them nested in the trees of what is 

 known as " Savage's Ravine," not over 

 three miles from the city. 



Usually it is a very common bird here 

 in winter, but some years very few will be 

 seen. The past winter has been quite fa- 

 vorable for theni, and large numbers have 

 been observed everywhere. When they 

 find a place abounding in food they remain 

 in its vicinity all winter and ofthn during 

 part of the spring. The cones of the pine 

 afford them abundance of food, and from 

 the choice it evidences for the soft inner 

 bud or seed of these cones, they form the 

 principal food. 



The only note I have heard it utter is a 

 short, repeated " c/m^j," which is deliver- 

 ed on the wing. * I have not noticed the 

 flocking of these birds with L. leucoptera^ 

 although there is no doubt that such occurs. 

 No specimens of the latter bird have been 

 taken here this winter. The flight of the 

 Crossbill is elevated, often at a great height, 



