THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
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Carpodacus cassinii .— (Baird.) 
Cassin’s Pinch. This bird arrives at Colville in April and May in small 
flocks, soon pairs, and begins nesting* in June. It appears to take the place of the 
western finch in the district, laying between the western slope of the Rocky 
Mountains, and eastern slope of the Cascades. I have seen it 6000 ft. above the 
sea level. 
Chrysomitrispinus .— (Bonap.) 
Pine-finch. I have only shot this bird on Vancouver Island, and on the 
Chilukweyuk river, never between the Cascade and Rocky Mountains; I cannot 
tell anything about the periods of its arrival or departure, or range north and 
south. 
Curvirostra americana .— (Wilson.) 
Red Crossbill. Common on Vancouver Island, and along the entire course 
of the Boundary line. It arrives at Colville early in March, but I am nearly 
sure a few remain during the winter; they keep generally to the timber on the 
hill tops, as high as 7000 ft. above the sea level. If they leave they leave very 
late, for I shot them in the Colville valley at the end of November. Where they 
build I cannot imagine, for I have searched again and again for their nests, but 
never found one. 
I have very carefully sought the white-winged crossbill, but never found it 
west of the Rocky Mountains. 
PlectropJianes nivalis .— (Meyer.) 
Snow Bunting. This bird is entirely a winter resident at Colville; they arrive 
in October and November, and remain until March, and then go north to breed. 
They utter a sweet twittering kind of song when flying, and perch freely on bushes, 
rails, and the top of the H. B. Company’s trading post at Fort Colville. 
At Sumass prairies, on the west side of the Cascades, they arrive and depart 
about the same periods. They vary wonderfully in colour, if you shoot twenty from 
one flock you will never find two coloured alike. The last winter, at Colville, 
although the temperature was 32° below zero, these birds did not appear to suffer 
the least from cold, and large flocks of them frequented some wheat stubbles 
belonging to the II. B. Company’s post, and the coral (an enclosure for cattle); 
they dug down through the snow for grain and seeds like ptarmigan. 
Passer cuius savanna .— (Bonap.) 
Savannah Sparrow. I obtained this bird at Vancouver Island, and at the 
Sumass prairies, and feel sure I must have seen it if it had been at all common 
between the Cascades and Rocky Mountains, hence I think it is almost entirely 
confined to the coast and adjoining islands. It arrives at the island early in April, 
and leaves again in September. Breeds on Vancouver Island, and coast range. 
Zonotrichia gambelii .— (Gambel.) 
Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow. This bird is widely distributed, ex¬ 
tending along the whole course of the Boundary line from the coast to the very 
summit of the Rocky Mountains: very plentiful also on Vancouver Island, where 
it breeds, nesting early in June. Arrives at Colville in April, in small flocks, and 
soon pairs ; leaves again in September. Shy and retiring in its habits, keeping in 
thick underbrush. 
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