62 PROCEEDINGS MANCHESTER INSTITUTE 



Highland District, which is also nearest the Presidential Range. 

 But here a small colon}^ has gained a foothold at the buildings 

 of one of the largest farms, and a pair makes use of the chapel 

 belfry for nesting. 



Five or six summers ago a family of six birds appeared on 

 our place in the garden. We gave the word to our man to -shoot 

 them. He secured four. The other two left. And we have 

 had no further trouble with the House Sparrow on our domain. 



106. Loxia curvirostra minor. Crossbill. 



Very irregular in its appearances, and perhaps breeding. 

 It is usually much in evidence in June in smaller or larger flocks, 

 sometimes numbering from twent}^ to fifty birds. These flocks 

 move over the Highland and are also seen at various other 

 points, A flock of sixty birds was seen in the Jefferson Notch 

 on July I, 1903, and a similar flock on June 6, 1905. In July 

 and August fewer birds are always noted, and still fewer in 

 September and early October, when the calls heard may come 

 from a single bird only or from two or three birds. 



During the season of 1909 scarcely any birds were noted. 

 I have but four records in that season, and they are either of a 

 single bird or of two to four birds. The last record was of two 

 birds in Randolph on July 30. This summer dearth was fol- 

 lowed bj^ a complete absence of the species in the Eastern United 

 States in the winter following. In 1910 three birds were noted 

 on Mt. Starr King on July 7. From July 19 to 29 a small flock 

 was about the Highland. On August 5 seven birds were seen 

 there. Mrs. Bridge noted three birds when following the " air 

 line " path on Mt. Adams on September 17. 



107. Loxia leucoptera. White- winged Crossbill. 



Rarely noted. In 1904, on July 5, a flock of about sixty 

 birds was seen in the valley. On August 18, of the same year, 

 two birds were seen b}^ the second camp on the South Branch. 

 On June 14, 1906, two birds were observed in the Jefferson 



