OF ARTS AND SCIENCES II5 



107. Loxia leucoptera. White-winged Crossbiel. 



In the summer of 191 1 White-winged Crossbills were quite 

 generally distributed in the region. None w^ere observed in 

 June or early Jul}^, but on July 20 five individual birds were 

 successiveh^ heard on the Cherry Mountain drive to Bretton 

 Woods. Four days later the calls were heard on the Highland, 

 and on Jul)^ 30 seven birds were seen there. Frequently there- 

 after the calls of passing or perching birds were noted. On July 

 26 three birds were seen on Mt. Starr King. 



At this time I was informed by Miss Ella F. Carr that 

 unusual birds were present on Randolph Hill, which were 

 spoken of as " wild canaries " by those who were hearing and 

 enjoying their beautiful songs. For some time all efforts on the 

 part of local observers to see the singing birds were unsuccessful. 

 But at length they were identified as White-winged Crossbills. 

 On August 4 I drove to the Hill and both saw and heard several 

 of them. Thej' had been singing freel}^ for three weeks or more. 

 Miss Carr stated to me that upon her arrival in Randolph on 

 July 14 she had at once been attracted by the song, new to her 

 then. She informed me that the singing was not as spontaneous 

 and the song not as long or as varied as it had been earlier. It 

 consisted of a series of trills varied in character, beginning with 

 a trill very similar to the Junco's, and also included beautiful 

 notes not in the form of a trill. Several individuals sang. The 

 singing was given from the tops of the coniferous trees in the 

 vicinity of the Mt. Crescent House and before the birds were 

 known by name had attracted the attention and admiration of 

 man}^ of the guests of the hotel, who subsequentl}'- by throwing 

 crumbs into the yard also had opportunitj^ to see and enjoy the 

 birds at near range. 



Miss Carr a few da5^s later found White-winged Crossbills 

 singing freelj^ at Trefethen on Peak's Island, Maine. She states 

 that at one time four birds were singing together, composing a 

 notable chorus. 



Mr. Marble informs me that birds of the species were almost 

 daily observed by Mr. Nathan Clifford Brown and himself in 



