BIEDS or NOETHEEN CANADA 401 



larger ends with brown of various shades, black and lilac 

 gray. The eggs of the two species of crossbill are seldom 

 obtained, for, like the Canada jay, they have eggs while 

 the snow is on the ground, very early in the spring, and at 

 a time when it is difficult to get into, the woods on account 

 of the snow." 



There is not a single egg, and but seven birdskins, in the 

 Dominion Museum at Ottawa ! 



527a. HoAET Eedpoll — Acanthis hornemanni exilipes 

 (Coues). 



Although not mentioned in Professor Macoun's " Cata- 

 logue of Canadian Birds," yet we found this species quite 

 common in the valley of the Anderson, where they build 

 their nests on low bushes of scrub pine and willow, while 

 the eggs are usually four or five in number, and in which 

 locality also it is believed to be one of the " wintering birds." 

 It does not, however, appear that any specimens were secured 

 by us in the districts of Athabasca, Cumberland, and New 

 Caledonia. When stationed at Peel's Eiver, in 1898, the 

 Eev. (now Bishop of Yukon) I. O. Stringer collected six 

 nests with sets of eggs of this species. The nests are beau- 

 tiful structures of fine twigs and roots felted together with 

 vegetable down and snugly lined with down and feathers. 

 One nest, taken July 19th, 1898, was built in a willow, only 

 two feet from the ground, and contained four eggs. Another 

 nest was built in a small shrub, less than one foot from the 

 ground, and contained five eggs. 



The Ottawa Museum has two specimens, but a large 

 series of eggs, the former taken at Indian Head in 1892, and 

 all of the latter in Labrador and Ungava in 1-895, 1896, 

 and 1897. 



528. Eedpoll — Acanthis linaria (Linn.). 



Bishop Stringer also found several nests near the Macken- 

 zie delta, built in willows, two or three feet from the ground, 

 and containing four and five eggs each. Mr. Eaine holds 



