488 



REPTILES AND BIRDS, 



instrument admirably adapted for dividing the scales of fir-cones so 

 as to disclose the gerrns, which are favourite portions of their food. 

 There are several species of this genus, all much resembling each 

 other. However, Loxia curvirostris (Fig. 204) is most common. 

 They are sometimes found near orchards, feeding on the kernels of 

 apples, which their bills readily cut. They are said to commit great 

 ravages among the fruit of Normandy when they pass through that 



Fig. 204. Crossbills. 



province, which they annually do in great flocks. This family 

 presents a peculiarity which is almost unique among birds, that 

 they build their nests and lay at all seasons. The Crossbills haunt 

 the wooded mountains of the north of Europe and America. 



The next are perhaps the best characterised genus among the 

 Passerine Conirostres. In it are included a great number of species 

 with bills more or less thick at the base. Coming to the most 

 remarkable of them, we have the Grosbeak ( Coccothramtes vulgaris^ 

 Fig. 205), which is the type of the genus, for although not larger 



