(L _ -rn o^l < j -\ . 
I have tried hard to get the nest ana eggs of the Crossbill 
and from boys have obtained several eggs thought to b such. But 
« 
they are tree sparrows' and so forth. Today I have sent my boy to 
get the nest said to contain the eight eggs to see if it is like 
the nest sent you. 
The finding of. the nest sent you established several points: 
first, that Crossbills oo sometimes and probably usually lay very 
late in the season instead of in March as all the lumbermen say; 
second, that they will build near houses in scattering trees. See- 
ing the young in scattered junipers at Islesboro and finding thi 
nest in such location indicates their preference of juniper for 
nesting. And the fact that -this nest was composed entirely of 
grass roots although built close to a tannery where an unlimited 
amount of hair could be obtained, and so near houses that they 
could get any. other preferred material, proves that they built 
this nest of grass and roots ffom choice. 
Last September I saw flocks of the Red Crossbill at Trout 
brook farm near Grand Lake, Cast branch of the Penobscot. They 
were on the farm buildings and round the door, just like Eng- 
lish sparrows. The keeper of the farm said they staid there all 
summer and as the young were there I have no doubt they bred reg- 
ularly close by. This farm contains several hundred acres and, 
since it is well suited for breeding, I think it the most likely 
locality ;o find them I ever saw. Being just north-east of Katah- 
din and the only cleared land near it, here is aofine field for 
onev.who has the time. 
