THE COMMON CllOSSBlLL. 



227 



The Crossbill is about the size of the Common Bunting, 

 and, like it and the Hawfinch, is a remarkably stout bird, 

 having a strong bill, a large head, short thick neck, com- 

 pact ovate body, short feet of considerable strength, rather 

 long Avings, and moderately large tail. Its plumage, in 

 which green or red predominates, according to the age of 

 the bird, is much more gaudy than that of our common 

 birds, and approaches that of the Parrots, a tribe which it 



THE COMMON CKuSSBlhL. 



also resembles in some of its habits. Though only occa- 

 sional visitors with us, Crossbills are plentiful in Germany, 

 Bavaria, Sweden, and JSTorway all the year round, and are 

 said to be mischievous in orchards and gardens, on account 

 of their partiality to the seeds of apples, which they reach 

 by splitting the fruit with one or two blows of their stout 

 bills. Food of this kind, however, they can only obtain in 

 autumn ; at other seasons, and, indeed, all the year round 



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