234 University of California Publications in Zoology 1'^°'^- 2* 



at Doeh-da-on Creek, July 21, a male bird was shot that was one of a 

 pair. Several pairs were seen there subsequently, and the flocks ap- 

 peared to be breaking up. At Flood Glacier, July 26 to August 8, 

 the species was present in great numbers, and breeding. No nests 

 were discovered, but several females were shot that had laid parts of 

 their sets. The birds were fairly numerous at Great Glacier, August 

 9 to 16, several were seen about the custom house at the boundary, 

 August 16, and they were frequently observed at Sergief Island up to 

 the time of our departure. 



It was a surprise to me to find this crossbill nesting so late in the 

 summer. That this is not the invariable custom of the species is shown 

 by Grinnell's (1900, p. 45) account of their habits in the Kotzebue 

 Sound region, where eggs were found in May. Their actions in the 

 Stikine country may have been influenced by food conditions, for in 

 1919 throughout the region there was a tremendous crop of spruce 

 cones, which were ripening at the time of the appearance of these birds. 



At Glenora the crossbills were feeding on the seed pods of the 

 cottonwoods, as they were also in some degree at Doch-da-on Creek, 

 but farther down the river, and a little later in the season, the spruce 

 cones had their undivided attention. 



The song of the white-winged crossbill was one of the most notable 

 features of the bird life of the Stikine Valley. As the flocks broke up, 

 the male birds sang more and more. During our stay at Flood Glacier 

 they were at the height of their efforts, and the music was in our ears 

 at all times. It was a continuous, rollicking, trilling song, lasting for 

 minutes at a time without cessation, and loud enough to be heard sev- 

 eral hundred yards. The singer was usually on some high perch, 

 preferably the dead top of a tall spruce ; frequently he would fling 

 himself into the air on wide extended, slow beating wings, singing as 

 he went, flying sixty or seventy yards, perhaps, to another perch. The 

 song is somewhat suggestive of that of a caged canary ; we also found 

 it reminiscent of that of the California house finch ( Carpodacus mexi- 

 canus frontalis). The song-flight especially is suggestive of a similar 

 spring performance of the house finch. 



Nine specimens collected (nos. 39880-39888), four adult males and 

 five adult females, two from Glenora, two from Doch-da-on Creek, and 

 five from Flood Glacier. 



