4 TEE SMALLER IIRITLSH BIRDS. 



varying it occasionally by seeds, buds, fruits, and grain, sometimes even 

 nuts, the shells of which they are able to break with their strong bills ; 

 they pick to pieces the pine-cones, and eat the seeds; of those of 

 the sunflower they are said to be particularly fond. They are partial 

 to the fat of meat, which is often used as bait in the traps set for 

 them. 



