Page 327 Crossbill. 521. Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra minor. Range.--Northern North America, breeding in the Alleghanies and from northern New England northward; winters south to the middle portions of the United States and casually farther. Greenish white. The birds are very curious both in appearance and actions, being very "flighty" and restless, and apt to remain to breed on any of the mountains. They build during March or April, making their nests of twigs, rootlets, moss, feathers, etc., and placing them in forks or on branches of trees (usually conifers) at any height from the ground. The eggs are greenish white, spotted with brown and with lavender shell markings; size .75 × .55. 521a. Mexican Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra stricklandi. Range.--Mountain ranges from central Mexico north to Wyoming. A larger variety of the preceding. The eggs will not differ except perhaps a trifle in size. Greenish white. 522. White-winged Crossbill. Loxia leucoptera. Range.--Northern North America, breeding in the Alleghanies and from northern Maine northward; winters to middle portions of the United States. This species is rosy red with two white wing bars. Like the last, they are of a roving disposition and are apt to be found in any unexpected locality. Their nesting habits are the same as those of the American Crossbill, but the eggs average larger and the markings are more blotchy; size .80 × .55. White-winged Crossbill. 523. Aleutian Rosy Finch. Leucosticte griseonucha. Range.--Aleutian and Pribilof Islands; south to Kadiak. White. This is the largest of the genus, and can be distinguished from the others by its very dark chestnut coloration and the gray hindneck and cheeks. Like the other Leucostictes, they are found in flocks and frequent rocky or mountainous country, where they are nearly always found on the ground. They build in crevices among the rocks or under ledges or embankments, making the nest of weeds and grasses. Their four or five pure white eggs are laid during June. Size .97 × .67. Data.--St. George Islands of the




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 523--524--524a. 524. Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. Leucosticte tephrocotis tephrocotis. Range.--Rocky Mountain region from Saskatchewan south to northern United States and also breeding in the Sierra Nevadas; winters on the lowlands of northwestern United States and east to Manitoba. The habits and breeding habits of this species are like those of the last. The bird is paler colored and the gray is restricted to the hind part of the head. They nest on the ground in June, laying four or five white eggs. White. 524a. Hepburn Rosy Finch. Leucosticte tephrocotis littoralis. Range.--Higher ranges from Washington and British Columbia to Alaska. This variety is like the Aleutian Leucosticte but the brown is a great deal paler. The nesting habits and eggs are, in all probability, like those of the last. 525. Black Rosy Finch. Leucosticte atrata. Range.--Rocky Mountain region of northern United States; known to breed in Idaho. This species is black in place of the brown of the others; the gray is restricted to the hind part of the head and the rosy is rather more extensive on the wings. Their eggs probably cannot be distinguished from those of the Gray-crowned variety. 525--526. 526. Brown-capped Rosy Finch. Leucosticte australis. Range.--Breeds at high altitudes in the Rockies in Colorado; south to New Mexico in winter. A similar bird to the Gray-crowned Leucosticte but with no gray on the head. They nest on the ground above timber line on the higher ranges of the Rockies. 527. Greenland Redpoll. Acanthis hornemanni hornemanni. Range.--Greenland and northern Europe; south in winter to Labrador. This large Redpoll nests at low elevations in trees and bushes, its habits and eggs being similar to the more common American species. 527a. Hoary Redpoll. Acanthis hornemanni exilipes. Range.--Breeds in the Arctic regions and winters south to the northern parts of the United States. This variety is smaller than the last and is considerably darker but still retains the white rump of the Greenland Redpoll. Its nesting habits are the same as those of the next.
Page 329 Redpoll. 528. Redpoll. Acanthis linaria linaria. Range.--Breeds within the Arctic Circle; winters south to New York, Kansas and northern California and casually farther. Bluish green. This species is similar to the last but much darker, and the rump is also streaked with blackish. These handsome birds are often met with in winter, feeding on seeds of the weed stems that project above the snow. Their flight and song is similar to that of the Goldfinch or Pine Siskin. They nest at low elevations, either in trees or bushes. The eggs number from three to six and are pale bluish, sparingly specked with reddish brown. Size .65 × .50. Data.--Mouth of Great Whale River, Hudson Bay, May 16, 1899. Nest in a willow 4 feet from the ground; made of fine rootlets and grass, lined with feathers. Collector, A. P. Lowe. 528a. Holboll's Redpoll. Acanthis linaria holbœlli. Range.--Arctic regions; south casually to the border of the United States. A slightly larger variety of the common Redpoll. Eggs probably not distinguished. 528b. Greater Redpoll. Acanthis linaria rostrata. Range.--Breeds in southern Greenland; in winter south through Labrador to the northern border of the United States. Goldfinch. This variety is larger and darker than the common Redpoll. It has been found breeding abundantly in southern Greenland, where its nesting habits are the same as those of the Redpoll and the eggs similar but averaging a trifle larger. 529. Goldfinch. Astragalinus tristis tristis. Range.--North America east of the Rockies, and from Labrador and Manitoba southward. Bluish white. These beautiful birds are among our sweetest songsters from May until September. They are resident throughout their United States range, where they breed in August or early in September, being one of the latest nesting birds that we have. Their nests are located in bushes, at a height of generally below fifteen feet above the ground, being placed in upright forks, and made of plant fibres and thistle down, firmly woven together. They lay from three to six plain bluish white eggs. Size .65 × .50. The majority of nests that I have found have been in alders over small streams.




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AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.
Page 331 529a. Pale Goldfinch. Astragalinus tristis pallidus. 529a--529b--530. Range.--Rocky Mountains from Mexico to British Columbia. This variety is slightly larger and (in winter) paler than the last. 529b. Willow Goldfinch. Astragalinus tristis salicamans. Range.--Pacific coast from Washington to Lower California. Similar to the eastern Goldfinch but back said to be slightly greenish yellow. 530. Arkansas Goldfinch. Astragalinus psaltria psaltria. Range.--United States, west of the Plains and from Oregon to Mexico. Bluish white. This species has greenish upper parts and yellow below; the crown, wings and tail are black, the bases of the lateral tail feathers and primaries being whitish. They are common in portions of their range, nesting in similar locations to those chosen by the common Goldfinch and laying from three to five eggs which are similar but slightly smaller. Size .60 × .45. Data.--Riverside, California, May 20, 1891. 5 eggs. Nest made of fine grasses lined with cotton; 5 feet from the ground in a small tree. 530a. Green-backed Goldfinch. Astragalinus hesperophilus. Range.--Mexico north to the Lower Rio Grande in southern Texas. A similar bird to the last but with the entire upper parts and cheeks, black. The habits, nests and eggs are identical with those of the Arkansas Goldfinch. 531. Lawrence's Goldfinch. Astragalinus lawrencei. Range.--Pacific coast of California, wintering along the Mexican border. This grayish colored Goldfinch has a black face and yellow breast, rump, wing coverts and edges of the primaries. They are quite common in their restricted range, nesting either in upright crotches or in the forks of horizontal limbs. The four or five eggs which they lay are pure white; size .60 × .45. Data.--Santa Monica Canyon, Cal., April 26, 1903. Nest in a cypress tree 12 feet up; composed of grasses, feathers, etc. Collector, W. Lee Chambers. 532. Black-headed Goldfinch. Spinus notatus. Range.--Mountainous regions of Central America and southern Mexico; accidental in the United States.



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 Pine Siskin. 533. Pine Siskin. Spinus pinus. Range.--Breeds from northern United States northward, in the Alleghanies and in the Rockies south to New Mexico. Winters throughout the United States. Greenish white. Siskins are of the size of the Goldfinch (5 inches long), and their calls, songs and habits are similar to those of this bird. Their plumage is grayish brown, streaked with dusky and the bases of the wings and tail feathers are yellow. Like the Crossbills, they frequently feed along our northern borders, but very sporadically. Their nests are built on horizontal branches of pines or cedars at any elevation from the ground, being made of grasses and rootlets lined with hair or pine needles, and of rather frail and flat construction. Their eggs are laid during May or June and are greenish white, specked with reddish brown; size .68 × .48. Data.--Hamilton Inlet, Labrador, June 17, 1898. Nest on branch of a spruce, 10 feet from the ground; made of grass, lined with moss and feathers. Collector, L. Dicks. 534. Snow Bunting. Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis. Range.--Breeds in the Arctic regions, and winters irregularly in large flocks through the United States to Oregon, Kansas and Georgia. Greenish white. Snowflake. These birds are only seen in the United States in large roving flocks, during the winter when they feed on weed seeds on side hills. Their nests are built on the ground, being sunk into the sphagnum moss, and made of grasses lined with feathers. Their four or five eggs are a light greenish white, spotted and splashed with yellowish brown and lilac. Size .90 × .65. 534a. Pribilof Snow Bunting. Plectrophenax nivalis townsendi. Range.--Pribilof and Aleutian Islands, Alaska. A slightly larger variety which is resident on the islands in its range. Eggs like those of the preceding; laid from May to July.
Page 333 535. McKay's Snow Bunting. Pletrophenax hyperboreus. Range.--Western Alaska; known to breed on Hall's Island. This beautiful species is, in summer, entirely white except for the tips of the primaries and a black spot on end of central tail feathers, thus being very distinct from the preceding, which has the back and the wings to a greater extent black, at this season. Their eggs probably very closely resemble those of the last species. Grayish. 536. Lapland Longspur. Calcarius lapponicus lapponicus. Range.--Breeds in northern North America; winters south casually to New York, Ohio and Oregon and occasionally farther. These sparrow-like birds are 6.5 inches long and have a black crown, cheeks and throat, and chestnut band on nape. Like the Snowflakes they nest on the ground in moss, but the four to six eggs that they lay are grayish, heavily mottled and blotched with chocolate brown; size .80 × .60. 536a. Alaska Longspur. Calcarius lapponicus alascensis. Range.--Northwest North America, breeding in Alaska; winter south to Oregon. This sub-species is like the last but slightly paler. Eggs indistinguishable.
NEST AND EGGS OF GOLDFINCH.





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 Smith's Longspur. 537. Smith's Longspur. Calcarius pictus. Range.--Breeds in Hudson Bay and Mackenzie River districts and winters south to Texas chiefly on the Plains. Grayish. This species is of the size of the last but is a rich buff color below, and the other markings are very different. These birds together with the next species are very common on the prairies in central United States in winter. They nest on the ground like the preceding species but the nests are scantily made of grasses and not warmly lined like those of the last. The eggs are similar but paler; size .80 × .60. Data.--Herschell Island, Arctic Ocean, June 10, 1901. Nest built in a tuft of grass; made of fine roots and grass, lined with feathers. 538. Chestnut-collared Longspur. Calcarius ornatus. Range.--Plains in the interior of North America, breeding from Kansas north to Saskatchewan; very abundant in the Dakotas and Montana. Dull white. This handsome species in the breeding plumage has the throat white, breast and belly black, and a chestnut collar on the nape. They are one of the most abundant breeding birds on the prairies, nesting in hollows on the ground either in the open or protected by a tuft of grass. The nests are made of grasses and sometimes moss; three or four eggs laid in June or July; white, blotched, lined and obscurely marked with brown and purplish; size .75 x .55. Chestnut-collared Longspur. 539. McCown's Longspur. Rhynchophanes mccowni. Range.--Great Plains, breeding from Kansas to the Saskatchewan. Grayish white. This Longspur which breeds in company with the preceding, throughout its range, can be distinguished from it by the small black patch on the breast, the black crown, and chestnut wing coverts. Their nesting habits are the same, and at this season all the Longspurs have a sweet song often uttered during flight, like that of the Bobolink. Their eggs are of the same size and similarly marked as the last, but the ground color is more gray or olive.
Page 335 McCown's Longspur. 540. Vesper Sparrow. Poœcetes gramineus gramineus. Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from Virginia and Missouri north to Manitoba and New Brunswick; winters in the southern half of the United States. Whitish. A streaked grayish, buffy and white bird distinguished by its chestnut shoulders and white outer tail feathers. They are abundant birds in eastern fields where their loud piping whistle is known to many frequenters of weedy pastures. They build on the ground, either in grassy or cultivated fields, lining the hollow scantily with grasses. Their four or five eggs are usually laid in May or June; they are dull whitish, blotched and splashed with light brown and lavender tints; size .80 × .60. 540a. Western Vesper Sparrow. Poœcetes gramineus confinis. Range.--This paler variety is found in North America west of the Plains and south of Saskatchewan. Its nesting habits are like those of the preceding and the eggs are indistinguishable. 540b. Oregon Vesper Sparrow. Poœcetes gramineus affinis. A browner variety found on the coast of Oregon and northern California. Its nesting habits are like those of the eastern bird and the eggs similar but averaging a trifle smaller. Vesper Sparrow. * * * English Sparrow. Passer domesticus. White. These birds, which were imported from Europe, have increased so rapidly that they have overrun the cities and villages of the country and are doing inestimable damage both by driving out native insect eating birds and by their own destructiveness. They nest in all sorts of places but preferably behind blinds, where their unsightly masses of straw protrude from between the slats, and their droppings besmirch the buildings below; they breed at all seasons of the year, eggs having often been found in January, with several feet of snow on the ground and the mercury below zero. The eggs number from four to eight in a set and from four to eight sets a season; the eggs are whitish, spotted and blotched with shades of gray and black. Size .88 × .60.





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NEST AND EGGS OF VESPER SPARROW.