126 FRIENDS WORTH KNOWING. 



ated" in that fashion in the beginning, with a definite inten- 

 tion toward pine-cones, we may theorize upon to suit our 

 tastes: but certain it is that it answers the bird's purpose 

 most admirably. The red crossbill is the more common 

 of the two, but the white-winged is not greatly different. 

 They fly in small flocks, often corning among the gardens, 

 where their odd appearance never fails to attract attention. 

 In addition to pine-seeds, they feed on the seeds and buds 

 of the cedar, birch, alder, mountain -ash, Virginia creeper, 

 etc., and probably add apples, haws, and berries to their 

 bill of fare, as does the grossbeak. They are wonderfully 

 happy creatures, fluttering in and out of the evergreens, or 

 passing swiftly from one to another, working away at a 

 swinging cone "teeth and toe-nail," heads or tails up it 

 doesn't matter till every kernel is extracted, then with 

 one quick impulse launching into the air and departing- 

 perhaps for the arctic circle before you have had time to 

 bid them good-bye. 



One of the earliest and handsomest migrants from the 

 frozen North is the little red-poll linnet, which is about the 

 size of a stout canary. He is a dandy, changing his gay 

 suit of black, brown, white, saffron, pink, red, and crimson 

 several times a year, and at least until he is three or four 

 years old never dressing twice alike. He is an exceed- 



