WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. 
381 
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. 
LOXIA LEUCOFl'ERA. 
Char. Bill long and compressed, mandibles curved at the points, 
which cross or overlap. Male : dull rosy, clouded with dull dark brown 
on the back ; wings and tail black ; two broad white bars on the wings ; 
belly dull white streaked with brown. Female : dull olive, paler beneath; 
rump buffy. Young similar to female, but paler olive above, and more 
decided yellow beneath, streaked everywhere with dark brown. Length 
about 6 to 6/4 inches. 
Nest. In the deep forest, usually saddled on a fork of an evergreen, 
amid the denser foliage near the centre of the tree ; made of twigs and 
strips of birch bark, covered exteriorly with moss (usnea), and lined with 
soft moss and hair. 
Eggs. 3-?; pale blue, spotted and streaked near larger end with red- 
dish brown and lilac ; 0.80 X 0.55- 
This beautiful and well-distinguished species inhabits the 
northern regions of the American continent only, whence, 
at irregular intervals, on the approach of winter, it arrives in 
the Northern and Middle States, and, as usual with the rest of 
this curious family, seeks out the pine and hemlock-spruce 
forests. Its visits to this State [Massachusetts] are very 
irregular. About two years ago, large, gregarious, famished 
flocks were seen near Newburyport and other neighboring 
towns in the vicinity of the sea-coast, at which time many 
were caught, killed, and caged. The habits of this bird are 
almost entirely similar to those of the preceding species. Its 
song is said to be mellow and agreeable, and in captivity it 
becomes gentle and familiar. 
According to Mr. Hutchins, it arrives around Hudson Bay 
in March, and in May builds a nest of grass, mud, and feath- 
ers, fixed generally about half way up a pine-tree, and lays 5 
white eggs marked with yellowish spots. The young fly about 
the end of June. It remains in this country till the close of 
November, after which it retires, probably to the South ; and 
Wilson’s bird was obtained in the Great Pine Swamp or forest 
of the Pokono (Pennsylvania), in the month of September, 
so that it may be possible that some few pairs breed in this 
situation. 
