876 
ANNUAL REPORT. 
spring. Mr. T. M. Tripple has recorded it as common in the central 
part of the state in December 1870. 4 
4. Loxia leucoptera. Grn. White-winged Crossbill. —Apparently 
much less common than the next, from which it may be distinguished 
by the presence of two white bars on the wing. 
5. Loxia curvirostra americana. (Wils.) Cones. Red-Crossbill. — 
The crossbills are birds found almost exclusively in or near the conifer¬ 
ous forests of the State, as their food is largely obtained from the cones 
of evergreens. The name comes from the fact that the upper and lower 
mandibles are curiously crossed somewhat like the parts of a pair o 
scissors. It is this structure of the bill that enables the bird to remove 
the seeds from among the rough scales of the cones. The present spe¬ 
cies is common and a small flock of stragglers is sometimes seen in the 
neighborhood of Minneapolis and St. Paul, away from their usual hab¬ 
itat. 
6. Passer domesticus. English Sparrow. — This unwelcome alien ap¬ 
peared in Minnesota in the fall of 1876, having been previously introduced 
into St. Paul, 1 understand. It has not increased here in its usual extraor¬ 
dinary manner, owing in great part,{doubtless, to our severe winters and 
late springs. At Minneapolis they have confined themselves, as yet. 
entirely to the business part of the city, where they build their large 
unsightly nests in all conceivable situations. 
7. Corvus corax. Linn. Raven. —Common in the northern and central 
part of the State. 
8. Cyanurus cristatus. [Linn.) Sw. Blue Jay. —In the south¬ 
eastern part of the State, a common bird familiar to every one. Of a 
bold and inquisitive disposition the Jay forages about our door yards 
and outbuildings, prying into every nook and corner, but never forget¬ 
ting for an instant to be on his guard against any impending danger. 
9. Perisoreus canadensis. Bys. Canada Jay. — Abundant and well 
known in the pineries and more northern parts of tbe State under the 
various names of moose bird, whisky jack, carrion jay, meat bird, etc. 
It is even more bold and fearless than its blue-coated brother, and 
lives about 'the lumber camps and farm houses on the most intimate 
terms with all connected pith the culinary department. It is possessed 
of a ravenous appetite, and is quite omnivorous in taste, though 
scraps of meat of any kind are always preferable morsels. It seldom, 
if ever, appears in the southern part of the State. 
10. Hylotomus pileatus. (Linn.) Bp. Pileated Woodpecker. —The 
largest of our woodpeckers, and with a single exception, the largest 
found in North America. It is nearly the size of a crow, mainly black 
and with a gorgeous scarlet cap and crest. “ Logcock’ is its common 
appellation. In heavy timber throughout the State it is a rather com¬ 
mon bird and stragglers are likely to occur whenever the country is not 
actually prairie or brush land. 
11. Picus villosus. Linn. Hairy Woodpecker. — Common. Colors, 
black and white, with red on the head in the male. 
