80 



incursion had appeared here since 1844 (Dutcher, Auk, xxi, 

 1904, p. 281). Prior to that year they had not been ob- 

 served since 1827 (Giraiid, Birds of L. I., p. 129). 



242. Carpodacus purpureus. Purple Finch. 



Rare permanent resident; more common during migrations. 

 It has been found breeding at Millers Place (Helme) and once 

 at Westbury (Dutcher). At the former locality it is regarded 

 as a regular but not abundant breeder (Howell, Abstr. Proc. 

 Linn. Soc. no. 5, 1892-93, p. 14). 



243. Passer domesticus. House Sparrow; English Spar- 

 rows 



A species introduced years ago and now an abundant perma- 

 nent resident. At Montauk Point these birds are partially 

 migratory; that is, they leave during extremely cold weather 

 and in 1901 they did not reappear until April 11. One fre- 

 quently sees them in Prospect Park and elsewhere gathered 

 into huge flocks as early as July first. 



244. Loxia curvirostra minor. Red Crossbill. 



Common in winter. Sept. 19 (Montauk) to April 23 (Pros- 

 pect Park). Though occasionally seen in summer and once 

 found nesting at Millers Place, April 10, 1883 (Helme, Ornith. 

 and OoL, viii, p. 68) it is probably but rarely an all-the-year 

 resident. Of six specimens seen at Mt. Sinai Harbor May 6, 

 1900, one appeared to be nesting (Helme, Auk, xvii, 1900, p. 296). 



245. Loxia leucoptera. White-winged Crossbill. 



Rare winter visitant. Mr. A. H. Helme observed birds of 

 this species almost regularly at Mt. Sinai Harbor from Nov. 7, 



1899, until January of 1900, when the cones on which they fed 

 became exhausted; and more rarely to Feb. 7, 1900 {Auk, xvii, 



1900, p. 295). They were seen in Prospect Park during the 

 same winter (Braislin, Auk, xix, 1902, p. 147). 



