— 6— 



The Am. Red Crossbill* 



This small bird is one 

 t)f the most interesting of our summer friends. 

 The bird feeds principally upon the seed from pine 

 cones, their bills are curiously constiucted so that 

 they can pry open the cones, hence their name. 

 The bird arrives in S.E. Nebr. about May first,and 

 it is thought breed here, as they have been seen 

 here this year as late as June tenth. 

 The birds come generally in flocks of about six, 

 sometimes as many as fifty. 

 They are very tame when feeding and can be ap- 

 proached and studied easily, at times even to with 

 in a few feet. The illustration shows one feeding. 

 While the birds are feeding they keep up a con- 

 tinual chatter of peet peet, peet peet. 

 They utter this call also on the wing, their manner 

 of flight greatly resembles that of the American 

 Goldfinch. 



Last month one was caught and caged, it did not 

 seem to be alraid and would feed on cones placed 

 in the cage. On going close to the cage it would 

 cease work and regard one with a stare of blank 

 amazement. 



