THE TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL. 209 



The song of this bird is described as mellow aud agreeable; it 

 differs, however, from that of the other Crossbills, as docs also its 

 call-note. 



The adult male is about six inches in length, and has the bill 

 black; the irides dark hazel; and the legs, toes, and claws dark 

 brown. Tiie head, neck, chin, throat, and breast are bright crimson. 

 The wings and tail are black, the latter crossed by two bands of 

 white. The young are very soberly attired, having all those parts 

 which afterwards become crimson of a greenish grey colour. The 

 female resembles the young birds, except that her breast is of a 

 yellower tint. 



THE TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL, 



{Loxia icenioptera) 

 PLATE XIII. FIGURE V. 



Another rare visitor to the British Isles, very similar in general 

 appearance to the species last described, but having the head, back, 

 and breast of a duller tint, and the wings and tail deep brown instead 

 of black. 



This bird inhabits Siberia and Northern Asia, occasionally migrating 

 at uncertain periods into the more temperate regions of Russia, Sweden, 

 Germany, Holland, and Belgium. 



The adult male varies from six inches and a quarter to a little 

 over seven in length. The bill is wider at the base than that of the 

 American species. The wings are shorter and the tail longer than in 

 the Common Crossbill. 



The specific name of this bird is derived from tainia — a band, and 

 pteron — a wing. 



IN CONFINEMENT, 



In Germany, where the Pine Grossbeaks are moderately abundant, 

 they are captured by means of a brass ring fixed to the end of a pole, 

 and provided with several horse-hair nooses. This is simply throwu 

 over their heads while they are feeding. The great tameness and 

 pleasant song of these birds render them desirable occupants of aa 



2 E 



