COMMON CROSSBILL, 341 



the present date, (July 30, 1839;) notwithstand- 

 ing, we have been unable to discover the nest, or 

 any traces of their having built. During winter, 

 the flock kept together, but after spring they have 

 been seen in pairs or small parties, and it is pos- 

 sible that some of the older pine woods, from 

 twelve to fifteen miles distant, may have furnished 

 breeding stations, though as yet we have been 

 unable to ascertain this. These birds, during the 

 winter, kept together, and were generally dis- 

 covered when looked for by their noisy notes 

 when passing from one plantation to another, or 

 removing short distances in search of cone-bear- 

 ing trees. When the flight was made to any 

 distance, the birds rose to a considerable height, 

 and flew with a very powerful rather undulating 

 motion, uttering as they flew a continued single 

 sharp call-note. On alighting they become silent, 

 at once commencing to attack the fir cones, and 

 only uttered their notes when disturbed, or on 

 removing to another station. The spruce fir was 

 chiefly frequented, and trees with a large crop of 

 cones presented a very interesting sight when the 

 flock was engaged upon them. The feet and bill 

 being both powerful, are used as scansorial and 

 prehensile members, and they would climb and 

 hang about the cones and branches in all the 

 attitudes, and with all the agility and security of 

 a parrot, and they possess sufficient strength 

 to enable them at times to fly off with the cone 

 of a spruce fir to an adjacent tree. The cones 

 are split or cut up one or both sides longitudi- 



