FEMALE WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. 
89 
I am able to shoot every day great numbers out of flocks that are 
continually alighting in a copse of Jersey scrub-pine {Pinus inops ) 
even opposite my window. It is proper to mention, that owing 
perhaps to the inclemency of the season, which has so far been 
distinguished by rains, early frost, and violent gales of wind, 
there have been extraordinary flights of winter birds. Many 
flocks of the Purple Finch are seen in all directions. The 
American Siskin, (Fringilla pinus, Wils.) of which I never saw a 
living specimen before, covers all the neighbouring pines and its 
favourite thistles with its innumerable hosts. The Snow-Bunting 
(Emberiza nivalis) has also made its appearance in New-Jersey, 
though in small parties, after an absence of several years. 
The White-winged Crossbills generally go to Hudson’s Bay on 
their return from the south, and breed there, none remaining 
during summer even in the most northern parts of the United 
States, where they are more properly transient irregular visitors, 
than even winter residents. They are seldom observed elsewhere 
than in pine swamps and forests, feeding almost exclusively on 
the seeds of these trees, together with a few berries. All the 
specimens I obtained had their crops filled to excess entirely 
with the small seeds of Pinus inops. They kept in flocks of from 
twenty to fifty, when alarmed suddenly taking wing all at once, 
and after a little manceuvering in the air, generally alighting 
again nearly on the same pines whence they had set out, or 
adorning the naked branches of some distant, high, and insulated 
tree. In the countries where they pass the summer, they build 
their nest on the limb of a pine, towards the centre; it is com¬ 
posed of grasses and earth, and lined internally with feathers. 
The female lays five eggs, which are white, spotted with yellowish. 
The young leave their nest in June, and are soon able to join the 
parents in their autumnal migration. 
In the northern countries, where these birds are very numerous, 
VOL. II.—z 
