162 



THE CROSS BILLS. 



BANDED CBOSSBIILB. 



•ot, they are so intent on the business, as frequently to suffer tiera 

 selves to be caught by means of a horse-hair noose fixed to a lone 

 fishing-rod. They are discovered by the twittering noise they make 

 while feedinar. '' 



The dsgree of lateral force which they are able to exert is very 

 Burpnsing. This, which thej are at times fond of exercising for mere 

 amusement renders them, in a tame state, not a little mischievous. 

 Im Gross-bills which Dr. Townson had at Gottingen would often 

 come to his table whde he was writing, and carry off his pencils, little 

 3bip boxes in which he occasionally kept insects, and other simUar 

 Objects, and tear them to pieces almost instantaneously. Their mode 

 »f operation was first to peck a little hole; to insert into this their 



