192 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. 



lowish spots. The young are abroad in the end of June, and the species 

 remains in that country until the latter part of November. Dr. Richardson 

 states that it "inhabits the dense white spruce forests of the Fur Countries, 

 feeding principally on the seeds of cones. It ranges through the whole 

 breadth of the continent, and probably up to- the sixty-eighth parallel, where 

 the woods terminate, though it was not observed by us higher than the sixty- 

 second. It is mostly seen on the upper branches of the trees, and, when 

 wounded, clings so fast, that it will remain suspended after death. In 

 September it collects in small flocks, which fly from tree to tree, making a 

 chattering noise; and in the depth of winter it retires from the coast to the 

 thick woods of the interior." 



Male, 61, 10-§. Female, 6^, 10. 



During winter, as far south as Maryland. Not uncommon in New Jersey 

 and Pennsjdvania, where a few breed. Common in Maine, Nova Scotia, 

 Labrador, and the Fur Countries. Migratory. 



White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Wils. Araer. Orn., vol. iv. p. 48. 



Loxia ledcopteka, Bonap. Syn., p. 117. 



White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Bonap. Araer. Orn., vol. ii. p. 



Loxia leucoptera, White-winged Crossbill, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. 



p. 263. 

 White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 540. 

 White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 467. 



Adult Male. 



Bill rather long, stout at the base, where it is higher than broad, extremely 

 compressed toward the end, the mandibles towards their extremity deflected 

 to opposite sides, so as to cross each other. Upper mandible with the dorsal 

 line convex and deflected, the sides slightly convex, the edges sharp, and 

 towards the end united, as in Rhynchops nigra, the tip excessively com- 

 pressed, decurved, and extending far beyond that of the other. Lower 

 mandible with its angle very short and broad, the dorsal outline ascending 

 and convex, the edges sharp, inflected, and approximated at the tip, which is 

 extremely acute. Nostrils small, basal, round, covered by short bristly 

 feathers. 



Head large, broadly ovate; eyes small; neck short; body compact. Feet 

 rather short, strong; tarsus short, compressed, with seven anterior scutella, 

 and two posterior plates meeting so as to form a thin edge; toes of moderate 

 size, the outer united at the base, the first strong, the lateral toes nearly 

 equal, the third much longer; the pads and papillae of the soles very large. 

 Claws long, arched, very slender, much compressed, tapering to a fine point. 



