BIRDS OK NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 47 



bb. Larger: Wing of male ad. averaging 92.20 or more, culmen averaging not less 



than 18.54; colors slightly lighter and brighter. (Western United States 



and southward. ) 



c. Smaller: Wing of male ad. averaging 92.20, tail 52.58, culmen 18.54, depth of 



bill at base 11.43, tarsus 17.27, middle toe 13.97. (AVestcrn United States 



in coniferous forests. ) Loxia ourvirostra bendirei (p. 50 ) 



re. Largest: Wing of male ad. averaging 98.55, tail 56.13, culmen 19.81, depth of 

 bill at base 12.45, tarsus 18.29, middle toe 15.24. (High mountains of south- 

 ern Arizona and New Mexico to highlands of Guatemala. ) 



Loxia curvirostra stricklandi (p. 52) 



:a. Wings black relieved by two conspicuous white bands. (Northern North 



America; western Europe.) Loxia leucoptera (p. 53) 



LOXIA CURVIROSTRA MINOR (Brehm). 

 AMERICAir CROSSBILL. 



Similar to i. c. curvirostra, but much smaller and with coloi-ation 

 dai'ker. 



Adult mah'. — General color dull red (varying from dull brownish 

 scarlet or almost orange-chrome in summier to a hue more or less 

 approaching dragon's blood red in winter), the red brightest on rump, 

 dullest on back and scapulars, where the feathers have more or lews 

 distinct duskj' brownish centers; orbits, upper part of auricular 

 region, spot at posterior extremity of malar region and another on 

 each side of occiput dusky brownish, these markings not sharply 

 defined, sometimes indistinct, but always evident; middle of abdomen 

 more or less extensiA^ely light grajdsh; bill horn color, more dusky at 

 tips; iris brown; legs and feet dusky brownish; length (skins), 128. 27- 

 161.04 (143.00); wing, 80.77-93.22 (87.38); tail, 43.69-54.86 (50.04); 

 exposed culmen, 14.48-18.54 (16.51); depth of bill at base, 8.89-11.08 

 (10.16); tarsus, 14.73-18.29(16.51); middle toe, 12.70-15.49 (13.72).^ 



Adult female. — The red of the adult male replaced by grayish olive 

 or olive-grayish more or less extensivelj^ overlaid by bright yellowish 

 olive or dull saffron yellow, this brighter color always evident on 

 rimip and sometimes prevalent over under parts (except abdomen and 

 under tail-coverts); wings and tail less dark, more grajdsh dusky; 

 length (skins), 125.22-153.92 (128.27); wing, 78.74-90.68 (85.09); tail, 

 38.10-53.85 (48.61); exposed culmen, 13.72-17.78 (16.00); depth of bill 

 at base, 8.38-11.43 (9.91); tarsus, 14.73-17.78 (16.51); middle toe, 

 12.70-14.48 (13.72).' 



Immature {?) male. — Exactly like the adult female in coloration. 

 (Many specimens determined \>j dissection to be males are quite indis- 

 tinguishable from adult females in coloration; others are variously 

 intermediate in coloration between adult males and females; whether 



1 Seventy-six specimens. ^Forty-two specimens. 



