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Dwight, Sujanifr Birds of 
Prince DcLwarcl T Bland.. - — — — — 
Loxia curvirostra minor. American Crossbill. el ia P s ™ 
abundant than the following species, but the flocks are so often ma e up 
of birds of both species, and so much more frequently seen or heard flying 
overhead rather than allowing a closer examination, that it is difficult t 
estimate their numbers. At any rate both were occasionally seen in 
flocks of old and young, sometimes one species predominating (usua v 
the flock was almost entirely made up of one species), sometimes the 
oilier. Although the call notes are quiteHTstinguishable, those ot leucof- 
tera being harsher, it is no easy matter to determine percentages in chat- 
tering flocks of a dozen or more birds. Their favorite feeding haunts were 
larch trees, and, unless disturbed, they were silent as they hung about the 
branches in all conceivable attitudes, usually upside down. They also 
feed on the seeds from the green cones of the fir which are tipped with 
freshly exuded pitch at this season, if it be a cone year. The pitch often 
mats on the bills and feathers of the birds. Dissection showed the 
breeding season to be long past. 
Auk 1C. .Tati. 1893. ».10 -//• 
Unusual Occurrence of the Red- 
winged Crossbill in Mass. 
About the first of March a friend of mine who 
lives in Quincy, Mass., showed me nine birds of 
this species that he had shot in that locality the 
day previous. He told me that he also saw 
several large flocks the same day. One month 
later I visited the same locality and collected 
quite a number and saw the birds in abundance. 
These birds have been seen almost every day 
from March 1st up to the present writing. My 
friend, who has been collecting all winter, in- 
forms me that he had seen none of this species 
previous to the above date. 
Now will some kind reader of the O. and O. 
who is better posted on the movements of birds 
than I am, please explain why this species 
should occur in such large numbers at a 
season of the year, when they are commonly 
supposed to be breeding in the extreme north- 
ern countries? 
Boston, Mass. j. p. \y. 
O.&O. XII. July 1967 p ./AT 
Birds of Dead River Region, Me. P.H. O 
45. Loxia curvirostra amencana , (Red Cross- 
bill). No nests of this species were found, but in 
August they were very common about the camps,' 
often coming at our feet in small flocks and feed- 
ing on the refuse when preparing trout for the 
regulation camp fry. By this it would seem that 
they did not confine themselves to the usual hill of 
fare which anatomists assign them, from a study of 
their hill and its mechanical properties. A pe- 
culiar note of these birds, which is uttered while 
in flight, is especially interesting. I can liken it 
to nothing but the tinkling of several small sweet- 
toned hells. 
O.&O. XI. Oct. 1886. p, 146 
