COMMON CROSSBILL. XO 



found this species more abundant in Maine, and in the Bri- 

 tish Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, than any- 

 where else. Although I have met with it as early as the 

 month of August in the Great Pine Forest of Pennsylvania, 

 I have never seen its nest." The habits of the birds in the 

 two countries are identical. 



In describing the plumage of the Crossbill at different 

 ages, I shall commence with that of the nestling as men- 

 tioned by M. Necker, which is stated to have been dark 

 green, with blackish longitudinal marks. The next appear- 

 ance, that of young birds when first seen in this country in 

 June and July, presents a greyish white on the head, neck, 

 and all the under surface of the body, streaked longitudinally 

 with dusky brown ; the wings and tail uniform dull brown. 

 At this age, as observed by Mr. Blyth, they resemble the 

 female Siskin in their plumage ; but the males are distin- 

 guished from the females by having the striated portion of 

 the plumage considerably more distinct, and more vividly 

 contrasted, than that of the female. The upper bird in the 

 group at the head of this subject represents a young bird. 

 By the month of September the young males have become 

 more uniform in colour, the stripes are more diffused, and 

 their first autumnal moult commences by a change to one of 

 three different states, — namely, to red only, or to yellow 

 only, while others change to red and yellow mixed, some fea- 

 thers being red, some yellow, and some orange, the last being 

 the effect of red and yellow combined. The red and yellow 

 tints probably become much brighter as the males grow older, 

 many grades of tints being observable, some of which are as 

 brilliant as others are dull. 



A red male, now before me, that had completed his moult 

 during his first autumn, has the beak dull reddish brown, 

 darkest in colour towards the tip of the upper mandible ; 

 irides dark brown ; the head, rump, throat, breast, and belly. 



