154 CROSSBILL. 



It constructs its nest in thick bushes, and in a very artifi- 

 cial and pleasing manner. The outside is formed of moss, 

 slender twigs, dried grass, and the fibres'of roots, strongly 

 cemented together with clay. The inside is plaistered 

 with earth, and afterwards lined with soft and dry 

 moss. The eggs are of a bluish-green colour, with dusky 

 spots. These birds feed on insects, worms, and snails. 

 They do not collect in flocks, like many others of their 

 tribe. 



When full grown their plumage is of a deep black 

 colour ; and their bill and eyelids are yellow. 



19. GROSBEAK TIB E. 



From the thickness and strength of their bills, the 

 Grosbeaks are able, with great ease, to break in pieces 

 and shell the different kinds of seeds on which they feed. 

 They build their nests in bushes and trees. 



Crossbill. These birds breed in various parts of the 

 continent of Europe, as well as in Asia and America. 

 Large flocks of them sometimes, though rarely, arrive 

 in this country ; and so unalarmed are they at the ap- 

 proach of mankind, that I have seen several which had 

 been caught by a snare in the simplest manner imagin- 

 able. They feed chiefly on the seeds of the pine or fir, 

 which they extract from the cones, by means of their 

 bill, in a very dexterous manner. And it is said, that 

 they are able to divide an apple, in order to get at the 

 pips or kernels in the centre, by a single stroke of their 

 bill. If caught and kept in a cage, they almost immedi- 

 ately become tame. 



They are somewhat larger than a lark. The mandibles 

 of their bill cross each other. The plumage varies in 



