175 



That they carry disease has not been definitely proved, but the possi- 

 bility and likelihood are obvious. The fact that turkeys are today so 

 subject to the ravages of the blackhead which has spread rapidly over the 

 country, whereas on some of the coastal islands of Massachusetts from 

 which the House Sparrow is absent they can be raised with old-time ease, 

 is more than suggestive. 



Without doubt the introduction of the House Sparrow into America 

 was a mistake. It was known in its original home as a rather undesirable 

 species and unfitted for the work it was brought over to perform. In this 

 country, removed from the natural checks that kept it under control, it 

 has multiplied beyond all reason and though its objectionable features 

 have increased, its commendable ones have not. However, the House 

 Sparrow is here to stay. It has been legislated against, and large sums 

 have been spent in the attempt to control it, but without avail. Local 

 endeavour has reduced the numbers from time to time, but only to have 

 new hordes pour in from the surrounding country when the effort has 

 spent itself. Constant endeavour will keep the numbers reduced but only 

 continent-wide persistent effort will destroy them altogether. Traps, 

 poison, and systematic destruction of the nests are the most satisfactory 

 means of control. Poison is effective, but care must be taken that it is 

 used only in the seasons and places where no other species have access 

 to it. Wire fabric traps that are always set and will catch numbers at 

 a time are the most satisfactory. A good type of such trap has been 

 described by the United States Biological Survey in Farmers' Bulletin 493. 



Genus — Loxia. Crossbills. 



521. Crossbill, fr. — le bec-croise d'amerique. Loxia curvirostra. L, 6-19. A 

 medium-sized Sparrow with the bill tips prolonged and crossing each other when closed 

 (Figure 52, p. 26). The male is dull red, brighter on rump; females and juveniles similar 

 but the red replaced by greenish or yellow. No wing-bars. 



Distinctions. The crossed bill is distinctive of the Crossbills; the lack of white wing- 

 bar designates this species. 



Field Marks. Small winter bird often in large flocks, some individuals showing red 

 coloration. Note somewhat similar to those of Goldfinches. Climbing, almost parrot-like, 

 habits. 



Nesting. Usually in coniferous trees; in nest of twigs and grasses lined with moss 

 and rootlets. 



Distribution. The coniferous forests of both hemispheres. The American Crossbill 

 breeds north of dense settlement and southward along the mountain ranges east and 

 west. Irregularly common in winter in southern Canada. 



SUBSPECIES. The American Crossbill is a subspecies of the Crossbill of the Old 

 as well as New World, and bears the trinomial name L. c. minor. 



The Crossbills are also birds that irregularly come out of the north to 

 southern Canada in the winter, re-occur commonly for successive seasons, 

 and then vanish perhaps for years. 



Economic Status. This species feeds almost entirely upon coniferous 

 seeds — pine, hemlock, and cedar; berries of the climbing bittersweet; and 

 seeds of rotten apples on the trees are also taken. The speed and skill 

 with which the seed is removed from pine cones makes one think that the 

 crossed bill is necessary for this work until one finds normally billed species 

 doing the same thing with equal dexterity. 



