424 LOXIA EUROP^A. 



M. F. M. F. M. 



Its claw A A ft l'^ A 



Second toe j^^ j\i ^*j /, 



Itsclaw j% ft A /i? 



Third toe j'^ ^-^ ^'2 ^^^ ^'g j% 



Its CiaW yg j2 yj j^ j^ j^ 



Fourth toe ft -^% ft ft 



Its claw j% ^% ^\ ^% 



I have been induced to be thus particular because a person 

 obtaining a very large individual might, on consulting the de- 

 scriptions given by authors, be induced to consider it as belong- 

 ing to L. Pytiopsittacus. 



Habits. — Very little with respect to the habits of this Cross- 

 bill had until very recently been given by British writers beyond 

 what is stated by Aldrovandus and Willughby, who inform us 

 that it nestles in January and February on fir trees, on the 

 seeds of which it chiefly feeds ; is plentiful all the year round 

 in Germany, Bavaria, Sweden, and Norway ; is said to split 

 an apple with one or two blows of its bill, in order to get at the 

 seeds, and is thus very injurious to gardens and orchards ; has 

 a tolerably pleasant song, and contrary to the nature of other 

 birds, sings in winter only ; and lastly, when kept in a cage, 

 creeps upwards and downwards in the manner of a Parrot. 



Montagu confirms the fact of its sometimes visiting orchards 

 in autumn, and sj^litting the apples. " In the year 1791," he 

 states, " we were informed by a bird-catcher at Bath, that he 

 had taken a hundred pairs in the month of June and July. 

 The greater part were males, which were generally sold for 

 five shillings each. Many are taken with a call-bird and bird- 

 lime ; others are caught by a horse hair noose fixed to a long 

 fishing-rod. So intent are these birds on picking out the seeds 

 of the cone, that they will suffer themselves to be taken by the 

 noose being put over the head." 



The Crossbills make their appearance with us at irregular 

 periods, in different parts of the country, generally confining 

 themselves to the fir plantations, in which they find their fa- 



