THE AMERICAN OR RED CROSSBILL 



"Their most remarkable habit is that of breeding in the 

 winter, or very early in the spring, when one would think 

 it impossible that their callow young could endure the 

 rigors of the season." He mentions a nest taken in Maine 

 in February, and another in Vermont so early in March 

 that the ground was covered with snow and the weather 

 was very severe/ 



They make no regular migrations, spring or fall, but 

 like will-o'-the-wisps appear and vanish, affording one of 

 the most delightful surprises to be found in nature. To 

 see one of them, accompanied by his olive-green mate, 

 swinging from a spruce bough against a flaming sunset 

 sky or a snowy landscape, is an event in one's life. 



Crossbills are denizens of coniferous forests. Their 

 twisted or crossed bills are peculiarly adapted to extract- 

 ing seeds from pine and spruce cones, though they eat 

 berries, fruit, grass seeds, and cankerworms in season. 

 Because of their curiously twisted beaks, these birds have 

 always been regarded with peculiar interest, even with 

 superstition. Longfellow has preserved for us the Ger- 

 man legend regarding this bird in his poem: 



THE LEGEND OF THE CROSSBILL 



On the cross the dying Saviour 

 Heavenward lifts his eyelids calm. 



Feels, but scarcely feels, a trembling 

 In his pierced and bleeding palm. 



And by all the world forsaken, 



Sees He how with zealous care 

 At the ruthless nail of iron 



A little bird is striving there. 



^ Educational Leaflet No. 35, National Association of Audubon Societies. 



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