70 
Chicago, both in Illinois and Indiana. In the summer of 1878 they were 
found at Columbus, 0., and abundantly at Cleveland, where it was re- 
ported to have bred. Dr. Wheaton refers to their having nested in In- 
diana as a fact well known to him. Dr. H. A. Atkins is said to have taken 
nests of this species near Locke, Michigan, in 1880. The spring of 1885 
they were common at Michigan City, Ind., and Mr. Byrkit thought they 
might have nested. In the summer of 1885 they were reported to have 
nested in Tippecanoe county, Ind. The same summer they are reported 
to have nested at Bloomington, Ind. They were reported from Monroe 
county, Ind., three different dates in July 1886. They were reported from 
Putnam county, Ind., in the summers of 1891 and 1892. They remained 
throughout a part of the summer of 1892 at Lafayette, Ind. They re- 
mained even later at Old Orchard, Mo., in 1892. 
These notes but serve to bring more clearly to mind the peculiar, erra- 
tic character of the bird, of which we have known, to some degree, before. 
The notes would also seem to indicate that much of our lack of data is 
due to the scarcity of observers in years past. A few years ago the col- 
lection of data regarding almost any species of bird from Indiana, or al- 
most any other state, would have been impossible. It is not improbable, 
could we begin with the abundance of Crossbills at Cincinnati in 1868-9, 
with a number of intelligent observers equal to that available now, we could 
have a collection of observations covering its whole range between the 
Ohio river and the lakes and perhaps including its movements for almost 
every year. Those blank years do not necessarily signify that it was 
wanting in the territory studied, but that for some one of a great many 
reasons, it was not observed. The erratic distribution of the species ap- 
plies as well to its summer range as to that in winter. It seems very prob- 
able that the species breeds to some extent throughout the Ohio Valley 
It is true that no specimens representing either the nest or eggs have 
been, so far as I know, preserved. Yet the evidence presented indicates 
that the breeding range of the species in the United States is not confined 
to the coniferous forests of the mountain ranges. 
Loxia lencoptera, White- winged Crossbill. This species is not met with 
in the Ohio valley so often as the last mentioned form. Its range lies far- 
ther to the northward. Its distribution within the United States, both 
in winter and summer, is much less extensive than is that of the Ameri- 
can Crossbill. Audubon mentions its breeding in Pennsylvania in sum- 
mer, but this is probably an exceptional case. Dr. J. M. Wheaton gave 
71 
it in his catalogue of Birds of Ohio, in 1861. Mr. Charles Dury found 
them abundant in the vicinity of Cincinnati, O., in the winter of 1868-9, 
in company with the last mentioned species. He says, “ they were in 
large flocks containing both species in the proportion of two of the for- 
mer to one of the latter ” (the present) “ species.” Mr. C. E. Aiken in- 
forms me that this species was in company with the American Crossbill 
when they were so common in the vicinity of Chicago in the summer of 
1869. He also noted them in Lake county, Ind., the latter part of August 
of that year. He says they displayed the same habits as the preceding 
species. His recollection is that the White- winged form was less abund- 
ant, a little later in their arrival, and more wary. They remained through 
the winter. Prof. A. J. Cook informs me that one was killed by Dr. H. A. 
Atkins, at Locke, Mich., Aug. 9, 1875. A pair of White-winged Crossbills 
were taken at Fort Wayne, Ind., about 1878. The female is now in the 
collection of Mr. C. A. Stockbridge of that city. Mr. W. L. Scott notes 
the occurrence of a flock of White-winged Crossbills near Ottawa, Canada, 
towards the latter part of June 1882 (The Auk., Vol. I., p. 159). Mr. 
Fletcher M. Noe notes the occurrence of this species near Indianapolis, 
Ind., in the early part of 1883. February 6, 1883, Prof. B. W. Lvermann 
shot two males from a flock of fifteen of these birds in a yard at Bloom- 
ington, Ind. February 10 he secured a female, and a few days later, two 
other specimens near the same place. Miss H. E. Colfax reports it from 
Michigan City, Ind., June 26, 1884. Mr. J. W. Byrkit found both species 
together in large flocks near Michigan City, Ind., the winter of 1883-4. 
Mr. Charles Dury reports it from Michigan City, Ind., he thinks in 1885. 
Faxon and Allen report seeing a few in the White Mountains, N. H., 
June 1886. (The Auk., Vol. V, p. 152.) Hon. R. Wes McBride has noted 
it as a winter visitor in DeKalb county, Ind. Dr. 0. Hart Merriam gives 
it as a resident in the Adirondack region but adds, comparing it with the 
American Crossbill, “not nearly so common as the last.’ (Bull. Nutt. 
Orn. Club, Vol. VI., p. 229). Prof. B. W. Evermann informs me that he 
saw one in his brother’s yard at Burlington, Ind. He says, “ after watch- 
ing it for a while I struck it with a stick, killing it.” March 16 he saw 
another specimen of this species at Camden, Ind. 
The only instance I know of its occurring in the Ohio valley in summer 
is that given by the late Mr. C. II. Bollman. He wrote me that he saw 
eleven on a fir tree in Bloomington, Ind., June 24th, 1886. A few days 
later he several times noted specimens of the other species. 
3 ? 
