58 THE RANGE OF THE CROSSBILLS. 



The only instance I know of its occurring in the Ohio 

 valley in summer is that given by the late Mr. C, H. Boll- 

 man. He wrote me that he saw eleven on a fir-tree in 

 Bloomington, Ind., June 24, 1886. A few days later he 

 several times noted specimens of the other species. Every- 

 where in the Ohio valley this species seems to be quite rare 

 and exceedingly irregular in its occurrence. Both Mr. E. W. 

 Nelson and Mr, Otto Boling note it as much less common 

 in Illinois than formerly. With the exception of the winter 

 of 1868-9, and the succeeding summer, I do not know of its 

 having appeared in any considerable numbers in any of the 

 tier of states next north of the Ohio River. 



