TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL. SS 



breeders, and lay their eggs in February and 

 March, the young birds afterwards forming family 

 parties with their parents, and straying about 

 in small or large flocks in search of food, when 

 they wander to a considerable distance from their 

 home. 



Writing of the Two-barred Crossbill in Alaska, 

 Mr. E. W. Nelson says : — " It is found in the 

 greatest abundance wherever trees occur to afford 

 it shelter. It is even in greater numbers than the 

 Pine Grosbeak, and shares with the latter its 

 range. It is more familiar than the Grosbeak, 

 frequently coming low down among the smaller 

 growth, and it is a common sight to see parties 

 of them swinging about in every conceivable 

 position from the twigs on the tops of the cotton- 

 woods or birch trees, where the birds are busily 

 engaged in feeding upon the buds. They pay no 

 heed to a passing party of sleds, except, perhaps, 

 that an individual will fly down to some con- 

 venient bush, whence he curiously examines the 

 strange procession, and, his curiosity satisfied or 

 confidence restored, back he goes to his com- 

 panions, and continues his feeding. When fired 

 at, they utter chirps of alarm, and call to each 



