Mr A. Craig, Jun., on the Birds of Glenurqulmrt. 110 



of watcliing their ways, and will attempt to describe as 

 briefly as possible their mode of procuring the seed. As the 

 name implies, the mandibles are crossed, sometimes to the 

 right and sometimes to the left, there seeming to be no rule 

 for this peculiarity, nor yet is the manner of crossing a dis- 

 tinguishing mark of the sex, both sexes being subject to this 

 variation. The lower mandible has a lateral motion as well 

 as a perpendicular, this double action giving the bird an 

 extra purchase, as the sequel will show. It inserts the beak 

 under the sheath of the cone, moves the lower bill to the 

 side, at same time opening its mouth, which has the desired 

 effect of raising up the scale; then it pushes out its long 

 tongue, which has a sharp bony extremity, and by its means 

 pulls out the seed. When the scale is stiff, it cuts it open 

 with the edges of the bill, just in the same way that one 

 would use a pair of scissors. I ought to have mentioned 

 that the cone, if not too heavy, is nipped off the tree, and 

 held by the feet against the branch while the operation is 

 going on, but when too large, it hangs on to the cone itself 

 in all sorts of positions like a tit or siskin. While feeding in 

 a flock, they keep speaking to each other in a sort of chuckle, 

 but during flight the note is a sharp clear ring quite unlike 

 the call of any other species. The male sings usually on the 

 highest point of a tree, and although his musical talents are 

 not of a very high order, his attempt at melody cannot fail 

 to give pleasure to the listener ; it is so different from the 

 song of all our native birds. Like many others, the crossbill 

 can imitate the warblings of different species, one which I 

 procured when young having acquired the song of a canary, 

 besides stray notes of the siskin, and a few" of the more pro- 

 minent calls of his own species, which he still remembers. 

 Whether it imitates other birds in a wild state, I am unable 

 to say, but am inclined to believe that young birds alone 

 acquire other songs in captivity, the old birds being thoroughly 

 confirmed in their natural notes. If properly treated when 

 caught, no bird gets accustomed to cage life more readily, or 

 is more docile and affectionate. They resemble the parrot a 

 good deal in their ways, climbing about tlie wires of the 

 cage, and tearing the woodwork to pieces, and the amount of 



