48 THE RANGE OF THE CROSSBILLS. 



Bicknell noted their presence in the Lower Hudson valley, 

 and in April of the latter year found their nest. In the same 

 article is noticed their occurrence about New York City in 

 late spring and early summer, on Long Island in midsum- 

 mer, and in the Bermudas from March to May (Bull. Nutt. 

 Orn. Club, vol. v., pp. 7-1 1). Mr. E. W. Nelson, in his 

 paper on "Birds of Northeastern Illinois," read before the 

 Essex Institute, Dec. 4, 1876, says this Crossbill was 

 " formerly a common winter resident ; now rare." Messrs. 

 Dury and Freeman (Jour. Cin. Soc. N. H., 1879, p. 4) note 

 its occurrence at Westwood, O., in 1879. Dr. J. M. 

 Wheaton (Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, 1879, p. 62) gives the fol- 

 lowing account of the occurrence of the species in Ohio : 

 *' On the 1 8th of June last Mr. Charles Hinman killed one 

 of these birds out of a flock of eight or ten which visited the 

 coniferous trees in his garden in this city [Columbus]. The 

 specimen which came into my possession by the kindness of 

 Mr. Oliver Davie was a male, not in full plumage. I have 

 since learned that the Red Crossbill has remained during 

 the season in the vicinity of Cleveland in considerable 

 numbers, and is reported to have nested there." In com- 

 menting on this note (Ohio Geol. Survey, vol. iv.. Zoology 

 and Botany, p. 317), Dr. Wheaton says: " I was unable to 

 learn whether its nest had been actually discovered," and 

 adds : " It has been known to nest in Indiana within a few 

 years." I regret that I have been unable to get any clew 

 to the authority upon which this statement is made. Prof. 

 A. J. Cooke, in writing of the birds of Michigan, says of the 

 American Crossbill : " Occasional in summer. Dr. H. A. 

 Atkins took nests of this species at Locke, July 13, 1880." 

 It had previously been reported as breeding in Minnesota. 

 In July and August, 1880, they were noted at Rugby, Tenn. 

 (Oologist, vol. v., p. 78 ; Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, vol. vi., p. 56). 

 Dr. C. H. Merriam notes it as an " abundant resident " in the 

 Adirondack region. He says it is " rather scarce and ir- 

 regular in summer, but the commonest bird in winter and 



