22O FRINGILLID^E : FINCHES. 



ever, as the Red Crossbills are, and both species take 

 such freaks in deciding their course of action that their 

 appearance can never be relied upon. It need surprise 

 no one to come upon a pair of Crossbills breeding any- 

 where in New England, though the general tenor of 

 the Crossbills' way is as above intimated ; for they 

 seem to be quite independent of weather and season. 

 Their diet is not so exclusive as many suppose ; the 

 birds may sometimes be seen helping themselves to de- 

 cayed garden fruits. Mr. Maynard has observed them 

 feeding on the seeds of beach-grass, and has also found 

 the stomach filled with canker-worms. The eggs are 

 still considered a great prize, few having come to the 

 knowledge of naturalists. They are described as pale 

 blue, with the larger end rather thickly spattered with 

 fine dots of black and ashy-lilac; the size being 0.80 X 

 0.56. They thus resemble those of the Purple Finch, 

 and are probably indistinguishable from those of the 

 Red Crossbill. Both species of Crossbills have a chat- 

 tering or rattling note, usually uttered as they fly ; but 

 the true song is seldom heard south of their nesting 

 grounds. 



Dr. Brewer gives an interesting account of a pair 

 of these birds which he kept for some time in a cage. 

 They grew very tame, and made interesting pets. 

 Their movements were parrot-like, though more rapid 

 and easy, as they clung to the upper and side wires 

 of the cage with their feet, and seemed to enjoy the 

 practice of thus walking hanging head downward. 

 They were both good singers, uttering irregular and 

 varied but musical notes, and fed readily upon almost 

 any kind of food, though seeming to be specially fond 

 of slices of apple. 



