44 



THE AMERICAN CROSSBILL. 



pine-seeds — a desire fully satisfied according to the fashion of that Providence 

 which works so variously through nature, and whose method we are pleased to 

 call evolution. The bill of the bird was not meant for an organ of the finest 

 precision, and Buffon, the Deist, once won a cheap applause by railing at the 

 Almighty for a supposed oversight in this direction; but as a matter of Eacl 

 its wonderful crossed mandibles enable the Crossbill to do what no other bird 

 can, viz., pry open the scales of a pine cone and extract the tiny seed with its 

 tongue. Besides this the bird is not so awkward in the use of its bill as was f< >r- 

 merly supposed, since it frequently alights on the ground and picks up the fallen 

 seeds, together with other food. Apples, left hanging, and mellowed by the 

 frosts, are favorite winter tidbits, and the birds have been accused of doing 

 some trifling damage to grain in the field. 



Crossbills give out an intermittent rattling cry or excited titter, tew, tew, 

 tew, while feeding. The flight note is a short, clear whistle, and a flock com- 

 posed of separately undulating individuals affords a pleasing sensation to both 

 eye and ear as it rapidly passes. The male is said to have a sprightly whistling 

 song of a most agreeable character, and he sometimes opens the season as early 

 as February. 



Specimens kept in captivity exhibit some of the traits of Parrots. Thus, 

 they grasp the wires of the cage with their bill as well as with their feet and 

 move about by its aid. They hang bead downward with indifference and they 

 convey fond to the mouth by holding it in one foot. It is nut surprising that the 

 birds are easily domesticated, even when full grown, since they are so unsus- 

 picious as to admit of capture by the band. I mice caught an adult female in 

 mid-air as a flock fluttered up confusedly from the ground. According to Dr. 

 Brewer, a nest with eggs of this species was once secured early in March by Air. 

 Charles S. Paine, in East Randolph, Vt. "The nest was built in an upper 

 branch of an elm — which, of course, was leafless — the ground was covered with 

 snow, and the weather severe. The birds were very tame and fearless, refusing 

 to leave their eggs, and had to be several times taken off by the hand. After its 

 nest had been taken, and as Mr. Paine was descending with it in his hand, the 

 female again resumed her place upon it. to protect her eggs from the biting 

 frost." 



