COBIMON CROSSBILL. 15 



Lo.ria cnrviroslra. Common Crossbill, Selby, Brit. Ornith. vol. i. p. 329. 



,, ,, ,, ,, Jenyns, Brit. Vert. p. 141. 



„ ,, ,, ,, Gould, Birds of Europe, pt. XV. 



,, ,, Bec-croise commun, Temm. Man. d'Ornith. vol. i. p. 328. 



LoxiA. Generic Characters. — Beak rather long, thick at the base, much 

 compresssd, strong, very convex, the mandibles crossing each other at the 

 points. Nostrils round, basal, lateral, defended by incumbent setaceous fea- 

 thers. Wings pointed; the first quill-feather the longest. Tarsus very short ; 

 toes and claws strong ; hinder toe longer than the tarsus ; claws curved and 

 sharp. Tail short, forked. 



The history of the Common Crossbill, in this country, at 

 least, is still involved in some obscurity ; and though they 

 were more abundant here during the greater part of 1836, 

 '37, and "38, than has been known for some years before, I 

 am not aware that any instance occurred in which the eggs or 

 nestlings were taken. These birds are most frequently seen 

 in flocks between the latter part of the month of June and 

 the beginning of February ; but Mr. Hoy has watched them 

 closely in Suffolk, and satisfied himself that the same birds 

 remained till May ; and Mr. Joseph Clarke of Saffron Wal- 

 den, who has also paid great attention to this species, has re- 

 corded his having seen them during every successive month 

 of one entire year in the plantations about Saffron Walden, 

 yet he could never learn that they then made any attempt to 

 breed. Mr. Bullock long ago suspected that the Crossbill 

 bred in this country, having received young birds from the 

 vicinity of Bath early in July. Large flocks were observed 

 in this country in 1821. Mr. Selby in the month of June of 

 that year obtained many, the females of which showed plain- 

 ly, from the denuded state of their breasts, that they had 

 lately been engaged in incubation. White of Selborne ob- 

 tained Crossbills there in summer, and found that the females 

 were in the same state as to plumage as those examined by 

 Mr. Selby. Mr. Knapp has observed the same appearance 

 in females killed early in August. Small flocks, including 



