50 



THE RANGE OF THE CROSSBILLS. 



Mr. J. W. Byrkit informs me that they were very abundant 

 at Michigan City, Ind., in the winter of 1883-4. Miss H. 

 E. Colfax, in her report of birds noted at the lighthouse at 

 the same place, gives them Jan. 16, 1884. In the winter of 

 1883-4, Prof. Evermann reported them very common in Mon- 

 roe County, Ind. The Ornithologist and Oologist, vol. viii, 

 p. 68, contains an account by A. H. Helme of their breeding 

 April 10, 1883, near Miller's Place, L. I. Mr. Robert 

 Ridgway (The Auk, I., p. 292) notes the probable breeding 

 of the Red Crossbill in central Maryland, in May, 1884. 

 Mr. F. C. Browne reported their breeding in eastern Massa- 

 chusetts in the summer of 1884 (The Auk, II., p. 105). In 

 the winter of 1884-5 they were tolerably common in Monroe 

 County, Ind. (Blatchley ; Hoosier Naturalist, 1886, p. 170). 

 The late Mr. C. H. Bollman noted them quite common in 

 the same county through March, April, and early May, 1885. 

 He saw them first March 2, and last observed them May 12. 



Mr. J. W. Byrkit informs me that he saw the first Crossbill 

 for the year on March 24, 1885. He adds : " I am not quite 

 positive, but think the Crossbills breed here, as they make 

 their appearance about this time and leave for the north 

 about the middle of May." Mr. Charles Dury informs me 

 they were abundant at Michigan City, Ind., one winter, 

 which he thinks was 1885. He also reported Pine Finches 

 and Redpolls from the same locality the same year. Prof. 

 E. B. Evermann reported it from Carroll County, Ind., March 

 27, 1885. I am indebted to IMr. E. M. Kindle for the in- 

 formation that Mr. Samuel Hunter reported a pair of Red 

 Crossbills to have bred at Bloomington, Ind., in 1885. Mr. 

 Hunter informed him that they nested in a pine tree and 

 that the nest was made exclusively of pine burrs. Mr. R. 

 R. Moffitt informs me that Red Crossbills were taken in 

 Tippecanoe County, Ind., in 1885, and says they nested there. 

 Prof. B. W. Evermann noted them at Camden, Ind., March 

 27, and April 13, 18S5 ; also, a large flock at Burlington, 

 Ind., April 23, 1SS5. Mr. William Brewster reported its 



