COMMON CROSSBILL. lOI 



England than, from the number of instances recorded, 

 one would be led to suppose ; for the nest, from the 

 very early time of year at which it is built, and from 

 the high position in which it is generally placed, is 

 frequently overlooked. 



The bird's favourite haunts are the spruce firs and 

 larches, upon which it obtains its food by extracting 

 the seeds from the cones, the formation of its bill 

 being especially adapted for this. It is also extremely 

 fond of the pips of apples, which it obtains by inserting 



COMMON CROSSBILL. 



its beak and then expanding it, splitting the apple in 

 halves. It is almost impossible to describe the ap- 

 pearance of these birds, for their plumage varies so 

 much as they grow older. The general colour of the 

 male bird is something between scarlet and crimson, 

 and the female greenish yellow. Before the first 

 moult young birds are plain brown. 



The nest is usually placed right at the top of tall 

 firs and larches, and is built very early in the year, 

 sometimes even in January. It is built on the outside 

 of small sticks and twigs and on the inside of softer 



