208 



CITIZEN BIRD 



'^ These two birds, though alike in shape, are as dif- 

 ferent in color as i\Ir. and Mrs. Scarlet Tanager. But 

 there is one point about them by which you may tell 

 them from any otiiers. Their curving bills are crossed 



at the tip^ which strange 



arrangement gives them 



their name of Crossbill. 



At a little distance you 



might mistake them 



for Paroquets, but 



only the upper half 



of a Paroquet's 



beak is curved, and 



it closes over the under 



half ; Avhile both parts 



of the Crossbill's beak 



are curved, and they cross 



each other at the tip like 



a j)air of scissors that do 



not close properly. 



How and where do you 



think these birds build their 



nests in such a cold season ? " 



" Make a burrow in the snoAv, 



perhaps," said Dodo. 



American Crossbill. ll r^ • x. i i. i i 



" Go into a haystack or under 



a shed," said Nat. 



" Or a hole in a tree," added Rap. 



" No, the Crossbill does not place his nest in any of 

 these ways. He chooses a thick evergreen tree, and upon 

 the fork of one of the branches makes a little platform 

 of rubbish to support the nest. With great care the 



