May, 1910 
NOTES ON THE NORTHWESTERN CROSSBILL 
93 
these lines are a few tear shaped dots of black. In all these sets there is a resem- 
blance to eggs of the Orchard Oriole. In several eggs there is a faint flush of sub- 
dued purplish stain. 
The flight is swift and strong, accomplish! with quick beating of the wings, 
there being a peculiar, pent-up energy in their movements. They wall start from 
a perch with an almost bullet-like swiftness. Their sociable nature is markt. They 
even feed together during the nesting season, there seemingly being no ill will 
among them. The scattered breeding colonies extend far into the wilderness. The 
past season I located three colonies which were nesting, and they did not vary in 
the time chosen nor in the selection of a nesting site; always in wild, mountain 
places, and the nests well hidden in the high branches of pine trees. 
The nest-building began about the 10th of July and finisht about the 20th. 
In their late nesting they resemble the goldfinch which postpones the nesting 
duties until July and August. One might believe that this was simply a second 
nesting, but the large flocks do not break up until late in June, no young birds 
can be found until late in summer, there are no young birds in the summer colo- 
nies where they nest, and that they do not settle to work until July, has been my 
observation. I have worn out more than one pair of “mountain” shoes looking 
for February and March nests in ,this country, but have learned to stay away dur- 
ing that portion of the year. Another peculiarity of the Crossbill is its propensity 
for changing its place of abode. Where they are abundant one season they may be 
entirely wanting the next. While my climber was at one of the nests the mother 
bird tried a number of times to come back onto her eggs, even venturing within 
two feet of him. The male came very close also. There were several pairs near 
about, which did not scold as many birds do, but seemed almost stupid. 
The birds of this region seem to be quite constant in size and in the brighter 
coloration, being larger than the eastern race and of brighter plumage. Adult 
males are bright enough to pass as “red birds”, by which name they are known. 
As we came from the place when the twilight glow was fading and dim shadows 
shrouded the mountain world, we could hear the gentle twittering from the nests 
far above us. 
MISCELLANEOUS BIRD NOTES FROM THE LOWER RIO GRANDE 
By AUSTIN PAUL SMITH 
T HIRTY years can bring as many changes in a bird community as into one 
composed of men. You can have an instance of this by perusing the pub- 
lish! observations of Merrill or Sennett, appearing approximately that num- 
ber of years ago — and then visiting the lower Rio Grande Valley. Today you will 
find it necessary to make some careful search to locate the Chachalaca ( Ortalis 
v etui a maccalli) near Brownsville, while it would be hopeless to expect to discover 
a Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopava intermedia ), or a Fulvous Tree-duck ( Den - 
drocygna fulva). However it should be balm for regret, to realize that while 
these several species have gone, or are disappearing from the Valley’s avifauna, at 
least a corresponding number of forms, have appeared. To this latter class belongs 
the Chestnut-bellied Scaled Quail ( Callipepla squamata castanogastris) that now 
roams within a few miles of town. Along with this instance could be cited the 
