f 
CROSSBILL. ‘ 83 
111. COMMON CROSSBILL—(Lovzia curvirostra). 
This is a bird which deserves a little notice at our hands on 
two or three grounds. In its plumage it varies more, according 
to sex or age, than perhaps any other English bird in a state of 
nature. It is indeed subject to almost startling dissimilarity. 
The peculiar shape and action of the bill is also noteworthy, and 
the strength of the muscles which move the mandibles may be 
judged of by the powerful effect produced in starting the scales 
of the strongest fir-cones. Again, it has been repeatedly met 
with in this country in large numbers; and not only so, put at 
such seasons as to render it almost positive, that it must have 
nested, or be nesting here: nay even females which were ob- 
tained showed, by the state of their plumage, that they must 
have been so engaged: and yet until recently, no authentic 
observation has been recorded of the actual occurrence of its nest 
and eggs. It is now believed to breed in the very earliest spring 
or indeed in winter, which may account for the obscurity hitherto 
attending its nesting habits. The nest is made of twigs below, 
with grassy bents upon’ such foundation, bound together with 
wool and lined with hair. The eggs seem to vary much in 
colour, showing a sensible degree of resemblance to those of the 
Greenfinch, but with a generally warmer tint, and spots of a 
much more decided or dark red shade.—Fig. 15, plate IV. 
112. PARROT CROSSBILL—(Lozia pityopsittacus). 
It has occurred in a few instances, but is much too rare to be 
noticed by us at length ; and indeed the same may be said of the 
bird next named. 
112. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL—(Lozia faicirostra). 
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