181 



522. Loxia leucoptera Gmel. [173.] White-winged Crossbill. 



As noted under the Red Crossbill, no White-winged Crossbills were 

 observed in the Mississippi Valley during the spring of 1881, but in 

 the fall of that year they appeared at Elk River, Minn., and remained 

 during the winter. In the spring of 1885 they were not so common as 

 the Red Crossbill, but were noted at Durand, Wis., March 29; at 

 Peoria, 111., March 30; at New Richmond, Wis., April 3, and about a 

 hundred were seen at Elk River, Minn., March 4. In Kansas it is a 

 rare and irregular winter visitor (Goss). 

 524. Leucosticte tephrocotis Swains. [175.] Gray-crowned Leucosticte. 



Breeds chiefly in the Rocky Mountain region north of the United 

 States; south in winter to Colorado. According to Professor Aughey 

 it is " frequently seen in Nebraska in winter, but rarely, if ever, in 

 summer." 

 527 a. Acanthis hornemannii exilipes (Coues). [178a.] Hoary Redpoll. 



Another Arctic bird which visits the Mississippi Valley in fall and 

 winter. Mr. Seton (now Thompson) gave it as a tolerably common fall 

 visitant to the Big Plain in AVestern Manitoba. It has been taken in 

 northern Illinois. 

 528. Acanthis liiiaria (Linn.). [179]. Common Redpoll. 



A winter visitant from the far north. The winter home of the Red- 

 poll in 1883-'84 seems to have been confined principally to the country 

 between the parallels of 41° and 44°, though the year before it was seen 

 south to southern Illinois (at latitude 37° 30'). It is usually a winter 

 visitor at Elk River, Minn., but Mr. Vernon Bailey writes that he saw 

 none there from December 25, 1883, to January 17, 1881, when the tem- 

 perature was 35° below zero. In the latter part of February the flocks 

 began to grow restless and spread a little, and the first week of March 

 the southernmost birds were crowding north. By March 10 all had gone. 

 The first was recorded from Frazee City, Minn,, on April 19, but proba- 

 bly reached that latitude a few days before. At Elk River, Minn., the 

 species was numerous and many individuals migrated on April 3, and 

 on April 7 the last one was seen. In the southern part of the State, at 

 Lanesboro, the bulk and the last left March 29. At Portage La Prairie, 

 Manitoba, the last was seen April 21. 



In the fall of 1884 the first flock of Redpolls appeared at Elk River, 

 Minn., November 1 ; the bulk arrived six days later, and they were com- 

 mon all winter. 



In the spring of 1885 the Redpolls remained in the Mississippi Valley 

 much later than in 1884. They were noted from Mount Carmel, Mo., 

 April 1 ; Grinnell, Iowa, April 25; and Leeds Centre, Wis., May 9. In 

 the fall of 1885 they reached Mount Carmel, Mo., November 4. 



528a. Acanthis liiiaria holbcellii (Brelim). [179a.] HolhoclVs Redpoll. 



Another northern species of rare or casual occurrence in the Missis- 

 sippi Valley. Mr. Ridgway kindly informs me that he has examined 

 specimens from northern Illinois. 



