516 



PASSERINES. 



on the kernels of apples, which their bill readily cuts. They are 

 said to commit great ravages on the fruits of Normandy when 

 they pass through that province, which they annually do in great 

 flocks. This family present this peculiarity, which is almost 

 unique among birds — that they build their nests and lay at all 

 seasons. The Crossbills haunt the wooded mountains of the North 

 of Europe and America. 



The Sparrow [Passer) is, perhaps, the best-characterised genus 

 among the Passerine Conirostres. In it are included a great 



number of species with bills 

 more or less thick at the base. 

 Coming to the most remark- 

 able of them, we have the 

 Grosbeak [FringiUa cocco- 

 tkranstes, Temm.), Fig. 225, 

 which is the type of the genus, 

 for it is distinguished by 

 the possession of a bill which 

 is about three-quarters of an 

 inch long, not less than half 

 an inch in thickness at the 

 base, and of immense strength 

 when the size of the bird is 

 considered, which scarcely ex- 

 ceeds that of the Thrush. It 

 feeds on seeds, berries, and 

 insects ; the kernels of the 

 hardest fruit cannot resist the 

 powerful implement with 

 which it is provided. Widely 

 diffused throughout Europe, 

 it is always' met with in England during autumn, continuing 

 with us till April, but it has not been recorded as breeding here. 

 It is constantly found in France, where it appears in open country 

 or woods, according to temperature. It is a quarrelsome and 

 unsociable bird ; and if placed in confinement with others, it will 

 imdoubtedly maltreat, and perhaps kill them. 



The Americans possess many species of FringiUa, some of them 

 having plumage of a fine rose colour. 



Fig. 22S.— Grosbeak, or Hasffinch (Loxia 

 coccothrmisfes, Linn.). 



