124 FRIENDS WORTH KNOWING. 
looking bird, with a plumage reminding you of a blossom- 
ing clover-field—a mixture of red and dull green. It has 
found out what its thick, strong bill was made for, and 
crushes the scales of the tough pine-cones as though they 
were paper. The pine-grossbeaks often come into the vil- 
CROSSBILL. 
lage streets, hopping about in search of almost anything to 
eat, and are very tame and interesting. Their note is a 
cheery one, and when captured they thrive well in the 
cage, eat apple-seeds greedily, and become very entertain- 
ing. The pine-finch, or siskin, is its miniature, and seeks 
much the same sort of food, but must get it from softer 
a 
7. oan 
