206 THE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 



breed in this country. Other nests liavo been seen near Dartford, in 

 Kent, in a pine tree, and near Saffron Walden, in an apple tree, but 

 no eggs were laid in either of those cases. 



This bird has a soft and pleasing note, which it sometimes utters 

 while on the wing. As it feeds among the branches of the trees, it 

 keeps up a constant twitter to its companions, accompanying every 

 sound with a movement of the body. Besides its ordinary note, it 

 occasionally when flying gives forth a sharp and ringing tone, which 

 is known in Germany as the Crossbill's crow. 



These birds have an undulated but smooth and rapid flight. They 

 feed chiefly on the seeds of the pine and fir, but will also eat those 

 of the apple, mountain ash, alder, and hawthorn. "In the autumn of 

 1821," says Macgillivray, "when walking from Aberdeen to Elgin, I 

 had the pleasure of observing a flock of several hundreds of Crossbills 

 busily engaged in shelling the seeds of the berries which hung in 

 clusters on a clump of rowan-trees. They clung to the twigs in all 

 sorts of positions, and went through the operation of feeding in a quiet 

 and business-like manner, each attending to his own affairs, without 

 interferin.o- with his neighbours. It was indeed a pleasant sight to see 

 how the little creatures fluttered among the twigs, all in continued 

 action, like so many bees on a cluster of flowers in sunshine after 

 rain." 



These birds are considei-ed excellent eating; in the market at Vienna 

 Mr. Gould saw immense numbers exposed for sale; they appeared to 

 be in great request. 



The adult male varies in length from six inches and a quarter to 

 seven and a half. The bill is dark greyish brown above, and dull 

 yellowish beneath. The irides are hazel, the legs and toes purple brown, 

 and the claws brownish black. The head and crown are pale dull red; 

 and the neck of the same colour, mixed with grey. The upper part of 

 the breast is pale dull red, mixed with yellow, the lower greyish white, 

 darker at the sides. The back is dusky red, and reddish yellow towards 

 the tail. The winc^-s are brownish black, with some of the feathers 

 tinged with dull red. The tail is deep brown. The plumage of this 

 bird varies greatly at different ages and seasons of the year, at certain 

 periods the yellow greatly predominates over the red. The prevailing 

 tint of the female is dull brownish or yellowish grey. 



This bird is sometimes called the European Crossbill, and the Shel 

 or Sheld Apple; its specific title is derived from curvas — curved, and 

 rostrum — a beak. 



